Cologne Reviews

California Dream by Louis Vuitton

by

California Dream was one of the Louis Vuitton fragrances that I was looking forward to trying, since its release in 2020. Maybe it was the bottle or wondering what that name would actually smell like, but I was intrigued.

I came into trying this completely blind and didn’t know anything about the notes or style of this perfume. What does it smell like? How long does it last? Is California Dream worth a try? Note: I am updating this original review, years after the fact.

What does California Dream Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, ambrette, benzoin, musk

My Full Review

Here’s how Louis Vuitton describes this scent: Mandarin as passionate as a sunset. It’s the lengthening of a perfect day. Watching night fall. Drinking in colours. Standing before the horizon.

California Dream opens up with its juicy mandarin orange note on full display. There is also a bit of an orange peel smell in there too. It doesn’t have the sharp punch that the citrus of Sun Song had and is quite mellow and naturalistic. Retaining that clean sensibility and brightness.

California Dream is a citrus scent that is going to give you a zesty aroma with the mandarin. It’s not my favorite type of orange, but it works well enough in this Louis Vuitton offering, and actually is one of the better examples that I’ve come across.

There may be some other unlisted fruit or other citrus notes lightly in the mix too. Mostly, it’s that mandarin.

It’s smoother later on and rounded out by the addition of the musk note. Honestly, I don’t get much benzoin standing out in the mix in California Dream, until the end. The musk is pretty pronounced for much of it, though, it never is overwhelming.

Opening act of zesty fresh mandarin. Then, mandarin sitting on top of musk with some ambrette coming into play.

To me, it’s a citrus with musk and ambrette during most of the wear. Less juicy as it dries down and and just a finish of benzoin after a few hours. Musk with a slight powdery sweetness in the latter stage.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this isn’t a super powerful scent. It’ll project maybe 5-6 feet, at its zenith, before moving back closer to the skin. Not a powerhouse and really it shouldn’t be.

The opening with the mandarin can certainly grab some attention within that limited space, but it is one that is going to give you more of a personal scent bubble .

The longevity will go 6-6.5 hours, on my skin. Pretty average and not something that is going to stick around from morning until the evening.

When compared to some of the other Louis Vuitton summer scents, Dream isn’t too shabby with its performance. I never really expect this kind of citrus perfume to be a monster performer, but this one holds up fairly well.

Seasonally, this is another spring and summer release from the designer. Mostly, it strikes me as a hot weather in the summertime wear. Just going about my day, California Dream lightly surrounding me.

Quite safely unisex and one that can be worn casually or more semi-formal occasions during the day.

Though, it probably leans more toward the traditionally feminine and may not be what many guys are looking for. It’s also marketed as a woman’s perfume, so, just keep that in mind.

California Dream isn’t a sexy nighttime beast or a romantic kind of perfume. Pleasant and attractive. It seems familiar, but has its own unique scent versus many others of this style.

Overall Impressions of California Dream

Do I like this fragrance? Sort of. It’s pretty good in totality and I really like the opening mandarin orange. However, it doesn’t wow me, once it dries down. The musk is good, but do I need to pay $265 for a fresh musky citrus perfume?

It is unique and fairly attractive, but the performance is also completely middle of the road. Outside of a collector or someone wealthy, I’m not sure how many people this would appeal enough to. If this price range is a reach for you, I don’t really think you’re getting your money’s worth.

California Dream comes across to me, as being ‘just fine’. It has its moments and charm, but ultimately doesn’t bring enough to the table to be a must have scent. I think Afternoon Swim and Cactus Garden are better summertime options from Louis Vuitton.

Unless this formulation just happens to speak to you, California Dream isn’t a must have. It’s in the same camp for me as On the Beach, fine, just nothing too amazing.

I do enjoy the cleanliness and overall vibe of it, but for the price there are plenty of better options. Particularly, if you want a summertime citrus and musk. You can pick up 2-4 options for the same price, that covers the same ground and more.

On the Beach by Louis Vuitton

by

Louis Vuitton went from having a spotty history at releasing scents to going full court press with its releases over the past few years. On the Beach was brought out by the design house in 2021. I grabbed a sample of this, as a part of my catching up with LV’s newer perfumes. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does On the Beach by Louis Vuitton Smell Like?

Notes include: yuzu, neroli, cypress, rosemary, sand, pink pepper, thyme, cloves

on the beach review

My Full Review

Here’s how Louis Vuitton describes it: The ecstasy of the sun, the rhythm of the sea and the gentle warmth of sand on the skin. Master perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud blends the infinite emotions of a day spent on a sunny beach. Yuzu, a rare citrus from Japan, is a burst of bliss on the skin. Its surprising freshness and brightness glides into the softness of neroli. Thyme, rosemary, pink pepper, cloves… a sandy note of aromatic herbs perfects the olfactory landscape, while a veil of cypress brings generous, woody shade to a pure summer day.

The opening act is a blast of the yuzu and neroli notes. Sharp and has an herbal spiciness to it from the notes sitting underneath. Not a big punchy spice, just a good baseline amount.

Definitely get more of the rosemary and pink pepper. However, early on I do detect a tiny amount of thyme, that will fade away thereafter.

The other note that really plays a big role here is cypress. Lots of Tom Ford and some Acqua di Parma fragrances use cypress a lot in their summer scents, so it is interesting to see Louis Vuitton doing the same for On the Beach.

The cypress, herbal notes, and that ‘sand’ element thrown in really do give this a warmth and dryness versus that bright and juicy yuzu start.

The rest of the way is pretty straightforward. Neroli, cypress, yuzu, and that mix of green/sand. This really does have a sandy quality to it, which is kind of strange. Not bad, just unusual.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it is pretty moderate like most scents of this type. However, it isn’t weak. You can absolutely get a nice scent trail with On the Beach, with a pretty normal amount of sprays.

The projection isn’t massive, maybe 4-7 feet from the skin, at it’s peak. A nice amount of time, with its power still intact. For a summer perfume, it does well at holding up.

The longevity is pretty average, though. It’s different, as it doesn’t quickly turn into a skin scent on me. While at the same time, it doesn’t last extremely long. It’s more of an abrupt ending versus a slow decline, maybe it’s just my skin though?

I get 5-6.5 hours of wear from On the Beach. Not terrible. Not great. Though, one would probably expect more from an expensive perfume like this.

Seasonally, spring and summer. Definitely lean much more towards summer. As the name suggests, this embodies being on the coast or on the beach itself. I want to wear this outside in the heat, as it seems wasted being stuck inside all day.

This is a unisex fragrance. All really are welcome with On the Beach, not straying too far one way or the other.

Casual to maybe semi-formal events outside. Daytime perfume all the way. Attractive and interesting, but not a fragrance that is going to be confused with being sexy.

Overall Impressions of On the Beach

Overall, do I like On the Beach? I like it, but I don’t love it. I would sooner go with Afternoon Swim or Cactus Garden or Imagination from this house, as far as pure warm weather plays.

This is fine. The sandy note here is interesting, but really doesn’t do much for me, as far as enjoyment. Citrus, herbal notes, green woods. On the Beach isn’t super complex, but isn’t jaw dropping good, in its simplicity. Especially for $280 per bottle (update: now, $300).

The yuzu is very nice and I also like the cypress here. Though, it’s not really enough to completely sell me on this Louis Vuitton perfume. The thyme and other touches do help this to have a unique kind of aroma, while being a familiar type of summer fragrance.

The performance is okay. 5-6.5 hours is about what you get with a lot of summertime fragrances, so it’s not too much of a knock on Louis Vuitton. These aren’t really heavy notes that we’re dealing with.

On the whole, I wouldn’t recommend most people acquiring On the Beach for their fragrance needs. It’s nice, but expensive and has a limited use case. There will be people who love the scent, but outside of them, there are better options.

But, samples aren’t too expensive, so I’d go that route before blind buying.

Eau de Lacoste L.12.12 Magnetic Pour Lui

by

I’ve done a lot of reviews already for the fragrances in the Lacoste L.12.12 series of releases. There are some pretty good colognes under that label, but none that really stand out, as amazing to me.

Today, I am going to review Magnetic Pour Lui, which was released back in 2016. I will share my experiences with this one. How it smells? The notes involved. When it should be worn? If it is even worth a try?

What does L.12.12 Magnetic Pour Lui Smell Like?

Notes include: juniper berries, amber, violet, patchouli, bamboo. tea, geranium, artemisia, vetiver

Click here to try: LACOSTE L.12.12 Magnetic Pour Lui Eau de Toilette

My Full Wear Review

At the very least, I want to give Lacoste some points for trying. The composition of this fragrance is quite different, from what you’ll get from most any other men’s colognes, on the market. It’s unique, certainly.

Even though, I don’t think the execution is there. To me, it is more strange, than ‘magnetic’. Not bad, just strange.

L.12.12. Magnetic opens up with a mix of juniper, violet, bamboo, and patchouli. It’s fresh and floral, the juniper is the strongest note, at the start.

However, the freshness of that note, gets diluted by the additional patchouli. While that’s not the strongest, it really does pair with the violet to create an outdoorsy sort of smell.

Further along, it has more of a woody/green herbal scent. Apparently, this is the bamboo and tea, going to work. Again, what an odd combination all of this is. I like it at this stage, though.

I start to pick up more and more amber, the bamboo is interesting, and I still kick a nice bit of juniper. I’m not a huge fan of violet, but it’s not bad.

Finally, what I ultimately get from the rest of this wear is: violet, amber, bamboo, a tad of the juniper, with patchouli/vetiver at the base. It’s got a light outdoorsy freshness, quite green, but not offensive or anything too extreme. It’s nice, really.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this stuff is pretty light to moderate. The sillage just isn’t very powerful. I actually broke the rest of my sample vial and it dripped on my living room carpet.

The thing is, the whole room didn’t smell all that strong from it. If I had done that with other fragrances, it would have coated the carpet in its aroma for days. So, not a powerhouse scent. On the skin, it’s noticeable, but not a huge radius of scent. Then, the last few hours sit close to the skin.

The longevity is like the other Lacoste’s in the L.12.12 series, 4-5 hours, and pretty pitiful. I don’t know what it is about this house, that they can’t ever put out a scent that gets to an elite or at least high level of performance.

Seasonally, I suppose this would be a year round type of scent. Honestly, it’s just a fragrance that doesn’t really fit into the usual categories. I’d say it’s more casual, but has enough freshness, to be considered attractive to others.

Overall Impressions of Lacoste Magnetic

Overall, do I like Lacoste L.12.12. Magnetic? Sort of. I don’t hate it. I don’t love it, either. Like I wrote earlier, I appreciate what they were trying to do, I just don’t believe they hit the mark.

It’s an interesting scent, yet blends into something sort of generic, and it really wouldn’t have mass appeal. With the violet note, I’m surprised I even mildly liked it. Still, it’s nothing that I really want to wear beyond the testing for this website.

The juniper, bamboo and amber aspect I actually sort of like. At least, it’s intriguing to me as a concept. The violet and light patchouli kind of dirty up and distract from it. Magnetic had some real possibilities.

The performance is also not very great. I’m not sure who this is for? I can see someone enjoying this, but I’d say find it for cheap, if you really want to try it out.

Update: This is apparently still around online here in 2023. Bottles don’t seem that pricey, but it’s still a pass for me. Lacoste Magnetic just isn’t a great scent.

Uomo By Ermenegildo Zegna

by

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?

FullSizeRender (39)

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

by

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.