Cologne Reviews

Only the Brave Wild by Diesel

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Another sample that I received recently is from the Only the Brave line by Diesel, named, Wild. Flanker fragrances to original scents that have enjoyed popularity can be hit and miss. Sometimes, you get an improvement over the original, and many other times you get a complete dud. How does Only the Brave Wild stack up? Please continue reading below for my full take.

What does Only the Brave Wild Smell Like?

Notes include: citronella, lavender, nutmeg, black pepper, coconut wood, cedar

Click here to try: Diesel Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, Only The Brave Wild, 4.2 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Only the Brave Wild, is a mix of woodsy green notes and spice provided by the black pepper and nutmeg notes. It took me a few minutes to figure out what the nutmeg note was reminding me of and I finally placed it to Polo’s Double Black.

No, these two scents aren’t clones of one another, it was just that singular note which was drawing my attention. But with the citronella note in this one instead of the mango in Double Black, there is a vague resemblance lurking between the two scents.

Anyways, there is a fresh spiciness and warmth to this cologne from the outset. The grapefruit-like aroma (citronella) gives Only the Brave Wild an understated citrus aroma that blends rather nicely but ultimately weakens after about a half an hour.

There is also coconut wood as a note and not the coconut itself, which is interesting because it isn’t an intense coconut smell like found in Virgin Island Water.

However, you do pick up on that sort of tropical vibe underneath the wood and spice. As it moves along, I get more of the black pepper and nutmeg combo paired with the wood, and much less of the citrus/coconut combo.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this Diesel cologne, is kind of weak, but not a complete disaster. You might add an extra spray while wearing it to get a full effect. Still, not going to overwhelm.

It hangs in the air rather lightly but it does have a pretty good radius of projection for a time. The overall effect is pretty limited.

The longevity is also not so great, I’d say around 4 hours per wear, maybe 5 on occasion. The sillage is a bit better than how long it actually lasts, which isn’t saying much.

For a mainstream designer fragrance, that’s just flat out embarrassing. I tested it a few times and that’s what I got out of Wild. With a super cheap cologne, I might expect performance like this, but not for Diesel.

This strikes me as a fall through springtime scent. I wouldn’t like this in the summer and it would probably perform even worse in the heat. Even though it isn’t a heavy fragrance, has some citrus and tropical notes, I’d still pass when it’s hot out.

In cold weather, it could be fairly decent, as a casual or maybe office kind of cologne to wear. There are certainly more formal and better options, however. I wouldn’t wear this for a night on the town, a date, or anything else of the sort.

It’s not a very versatile fragrance outside of the range of climate that it can be worn in.

Overall Impressions of Only the Brave Wild

Overall would I recommend Only the Brave Wild? Not really. I don’t see it as useful in any meaningful way. It doesn’t smell terrible, but it’s just okay, and very forgettable.

The performance isn’t good enough for it to be a sneaky good fragrance, and I’m pretty unenthusiastic about wearing it any further. It is fairly unique, it just doesn’t do much of anything with that uniqueness.

Like, the performance is bad, even if you happen to personally like the smell. Coming back to this scent, I’m wavering on even that aspect of it. I still think that Only the Brave Wild is mid in smell and pretty lousy in almost every other aspect.

There are a ton of better options at this price point and below, so Only the Brave Wild is the odd man out.

Eternity Air for Men by Calvin Klein

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Eternity Air was one of the seemingly endless line of CK Eternity fragrances, that I had yet to properly try and review on the site. This one came out back in 2018 and I wasn’t too familiar with it.  So, I bought a travel sprayer’s worth of it to test out and share my thoughts on. How does it smell? How long does Air last? Is it worth a try?

What does Eternity Air Smell Like?

Notes include: lavender, mandarin, sea notes, juniper, violet leaf, seaweed, patchouli, amber, apple

Click here to try: Eternity Air

My Full Wear Review

The opening spray of Eternity Air does bring an airy sort of aroma. Not that it’s weak, but more like a gust of wind carrying it’s notes on top of it.

Initially, the lavender is most noticeable, along with the freshness of the juniper. A light mandarin and seaweed/saltwater combination, that is sort of like Bvlgari Aqva. However, this one reminds me a lot of Maritime Journey by Tommy Bahama blended with Light Blue Eau Intense.

I like the concept itself. The air accord and the sea/aquatic accord being the two dominate themes in this one. So, once I saw the listed notes, I had pretty high expectations for Air.

There is definitely an accord of ingredients in this one, that produces an Light Blue Eau Intense aroma. It’s like a current underneath the main attraction of Eternity Air. Amber, sea notes, mandarin, and especially the juniper all overlap with these two fragrances. Air isn’t nearly as strong, nor as citrusy.

From here, I pick up some of the violet leaf. What Eternity Air ultimately becomes is about the amber, lavender, juniper, and seaweed. The other notes mostly evaporate away from my skin and this starts to feel rather plain and familiar.

So, the oceanic feeling is gone, except for the seaweed. Then, the ‘air’ fresh breeziness doesn’t hold up throughout either. Again, the two main attractions are all but neutered by the end.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it’s pretty moderate. On the lower end of the middle of the pack. For me, it actually holds up decently, but never feels like a powerhouse or anything.

Again, this is an airy aquatic. As such, Eternity Air isn’t going to be a heavy sillage bomb. Some scent trail and projection, but it’s going to be lighter with how it hangs in the air.

Longevity is okay, but not amazing. 5-6.5 hours with a few sprays, on the skin. On an old t-shirt, I got some more hours out of it. So, if you don’t mind damaging some clothing item, it’ll go further for you.

This one suffers the same fate as many other recent releases from this brand, it’s middling in the performance. Even if you like the smell of the fragrance itself, it kind of disappoints anyway.

Eternity Air is a spring/summer wear. Though, I’ve worn it in January, and it really wasn’t bad at all. It’s not a super citrus scent and the airy freshness didn’t feel too out of place.

Mostly, I would wear this as a casual scent. It’s not particularly offensive, so the office wouldn’t be a problem either. Not a club beast. It’s somewhat attractive, but nothing to call sexy.

You can at least wear Eternity Air in a variety of situations, which I guess is its strength. It’s just not very formal or anything that is well put together, even if it is something that one can get use out of.

Overall Impressions of Eternity Air

Do I like this fragrance? It’s okay. There’s nothing all that unique about it, nor anything attention grabbing. It smells like plenty of others out there, doesn’t have insane performance, but it isn’t revolting.

I thought that I would really like this one going into it. I do like fresh aquatics and with that added ‘air’ accord, this cologne sounded like something that’d be an under the radar gem. However, it doesn’t ever turn into anything special.

From the Eternity series, Air, is one of my least favorites. Eternity Now and Aqua are both better warm weather colognes. As such, what’s the point of getting this one?

The opening act is probably it’s most attractive point, but that’s short-lived. Everything else about it is completely middle of the road. Kind of a forgettable experience. Again, Eternity Air isn’t a bad fragrance, I just can’t see myself wanting to or needing to wear it.

Akaster by Parfums de Marly

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Still moving my way through this box full of sample fragrances and also have a handful of Parfums de Marly scents to do write-ups on. Today’s entry is a review of Akaster, another cologne from the horse named French line, this one released in 2015. What does Akaster smell like? What are the notes? How does it perform? Is it worth a purchase? Continue below for my full take on this Parfums de Marly fragrance.

What does Akaster Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, Bulgarian Rose, agarwood, sandalwood, cypress, and more

Click here to try: Parfums de Marly Akaster, 4.2 Fl Oz 

My Full Review

While there is a lemon top note to Akaster, it is very subtle and just a hint of citrus to what is otherwise a very woody and rose-laden fragrance. There is a crisp forest element and a bit of spice, just to change things up somewhat.

However, the two main attractions here are the rose and the oud notes.

I’m usually pretty hesitant with rose colognes, because it’s not my favorite note, and it can be absolutely too much. However, I think that Parfums de Marly really did a great job of blending this cologne.

The oud isn’t too powerful and the rose isn’t too overbearing, there is a firm balance between the two, and it makes this fragrance better than it otherwise would’ve been.

Akaster is a very straightforward, linear, cologne. You are going to get a oud base that is flanked by a fresh and crisp array of other tree notes. Other than the oud, I get a good deal of the cypress. Very green.

This is all surrounded by an air of roses growing in a garden and a squeeze of lemon. Simple, but actually quite effective.

Sillage, Longevity, When to Wear

Projection wise, Akaster is pretty strong. One spray was plenty detectable and any more than 2-3 would be overdoing it. Spraying this on clothes, it leaped across the room, with its projection and the trail on skin was also awesome. Great sillage. Well, at least for a time.

Akaster is one of the fragrances that I’ve come across, that has a massive projection, but the sustained performance just isn’t there. Burns twice as bright, but quiets down rather quickly.

The longevity is ok/good but not great, it seemed to not want to last more than six hours, both times I wore it around. Actually, it’s kind of disappointing, at this price point.

Seriously, after that massive start, I was thinking it’d be around for double digit hours like other PdM fragrances. Akaster just dies out, on my skin. Maybe other people get this one for a long time, but it’s pretty mid on me.

Seasonally, Akaster is one for the colder months. Think a crisp fall day and into the winter time. It has an airy freshness to it, but isn’t really all that ‘warm’ and enveloping. It is somewhat versatile, but not an every occasion sort of scent.

I like it in a dressy casual to dressed up scenario. Not a night club fragrance, but could probably be worn at the office. Pleasant, but not particularly sexy. More one to enjoy as a niche perfume, than a mass crowd pleaser.

Overall Impressions of Akaster

Overall, do I like Akaster? Yes, much more than I though that I would when reading the notes. It’s a simple fragrance from Parfums de Marly, but so well put together that it just works.

It does have some limitations in terms of its longevity and versatility, but it also smells quite nice. Almost a reverse of what I expected with it. I thought that the performance would be amazing and that I wouldn’t really like the smell.

Rose and oud have a great balance in this blend and I like the additional woody notes, like cypress. Not very complex, but still fairly enjoyable.

Is that good enough for the associated price tag? I guess that depends on your budget. I wouldn’t personally drop hundreds of dollars for it, but I enjoy wearing it well enough. It’s an well above average scent, but I wouldn’t put it among the best from this design house.

The One Luminous Night by D&G

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The One is a series of fragrances that has spun of a bunch of flankers, including the ‘Night’ special editions. Luminous Night released in 2021, is one that has gotten a lot of attention out of those three, to the point where finding a bottle is an expensive proposition. Is it actually worth it? How does it smell? Does it last long?

What does The One Luminous Night Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, basil, black pepper, dates, amber, incense, sage, geranium, sandalwood

luminous night review

My Full Review

Here’s how D&G describes it: Inspired by the captivating contrast between the deep blue night sky and the blazing gold stars set within it, The One Luminous Night conjures the magic and splendour of a star-studded Arabian night.

When I first saw the notes, bottle, and concept of The One Luminous Night I was excited to try it. The blue bottle looks great.

However, since it was a limited edition and not sold in the US, I kind of forgot about it for a while.

Forgot to the point that bottles became scarce, and I had to secure a decant of it for testing. Knowing that, I would probably plop down the near $200 for a bottle off of eBay if I loved the fragrance.

Upon spraying, I do get the contrast between cool and the warm notes. The early part of this scent is fresh with the sweetness of the dates lurking underneath.

Sage and basil are the stronger of the spicy notes to be. I don’t get all that much black pepper and only a faint peak of the geranium note. The pepper is mostly around for the first 15 minutes, then is pretty much gone.

It is interesting, the style here reminds me of one of the L’Homme Ideal flankers, even while they don’t smell the same. Smokiness, warmth, spice, with a nice fruit providing a sweet heart.

The initial freshness will subside. Sage sticks around, but it will fall down the chain of importance.

Dates, amber, incense, and wood. Expect that to be the main event for basically the rest of the wear. The dates are nice, more of a dried fruit aroma, than anything hyper-sweet or juicy.

Slightly smoky dates sitting in a pool of amber is how I would describe this one. In the middle act, the geranium while still not heavy, does pick up somewhat. Once that pepper is out of the way, I can get more of it.

Update: Now that I have a full sized bottle of Luminous Night, I’ve noticed that it does present somewhat differently, on any given wear. Sometimes, the sage is massive. Other times, this is much more of the warm and sweet aroma led by the date note. When the sage is super heavy, I enjoy this less.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this isn’t a powerhouse. Actually pretty moderate, at its height and then more intimate, without being a complete skin scent. The opening can indeed pack a punch, however. For me, that is a pretty short-lived experience.

The projection runs about 2-4 feet off of the skin for much of the wear. I do notice it on me throughout, just not a complete monster.

It lasts somewhere in the 7-8 hour range. Again, it’s not a strong fragrance, but it does stick around. It’s one of the better The One fragrances, in terms of performance. Which, isn’t one of the series’ strong suits.

Seasonally, this is best in autumn and winter. But, as a nighttime fragrance, if it isn’t too hot and sticky out…you can wear it whenever. Definitely avoid wearing Luminous Night, during the day in spring and summer, especially. Can be a pretty cloying cologne, in that situation.

It’s very attractive and well put together. Semi formal or even formal social situations would be fine. It can absolutely be worn dressed up, while still having its sexy side as a date night go to.

But, that being said, I do prefer this as more of a casual or ‘going out’ nighttime fragrance. The sweetness and warmth feels more in line with that versus being a pure formal play.

Overall Impressions of Luminous Night

Overall, do I like Luminous Night? I do enjoy it. I think that is smells very good, but it isn’t a total love for me. I don’t know if I’m going to get a full bottle for myself (I might still), since that would run me $200 or so.

Update: I did get a bottle, once I found one for around $100. Still sort of feel like I overpaid, but wasn’t too terrible of a deal.

That being the case, it is one of the best The One releases. Better performing than the EDT, even if I enjoy the smell of that a bit more. Plus, I do have a full EDP bottle too.

I actually really like that opening act, with its burst of freshness to contrast against the warmth of the rest of the wear. Basil, pepper, sage, and geranium with a bright bergamot is great. The date note is also very attractive.

I really like everything about this release. I’m just not floored by it. When I compare it to another expensive release I purchased a full bottle of, Noir Extreme, it just doesn’t hit me on the same level.

Update: That sage note, can be somewhat annoying depending on how it shows up on any given day. Sometimes, it just smells overwhelming versus the date and even other spicier ingredients.

I recommend it. If this were a more available scent, I’d probably tell everyone that it’s one to pick up. At $200? Maybe not for everyone. But, it also is a safe blind buy based on the smell and performance alone.

Scarcity made this one go from a sure thing, to something you may want to track down decants of before committing to the entire thing.

Mandorlo Di Sicilia by Acqua Di Parma

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I’m still working my way through writing a ton of reviews and other posts. I think that I have about 100+ more in the queue, so stayed tuned on that front. Today’s entry is another one from Acqua di Parma, Mandorlo di Sicilia, and perfume for both men and women which came out in 1999. What does this fragrance smell like? How does it perform? Continue reading below for my full review.

What does Mandorlo di Sicilia Smell Like?

Notes include: almond, white musk, vanilla, orange, bergamot, anise

Click here to try: Acqua Di Parma Blue Mediterraneo Mandorlo Di Sicilia Eau de Toilette Spray, 2.5 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Mandorlo di Sicilia reminds me a lot of root beer. Not the drink really, but the little candies that they make of that flavor, in the shape of glass bottles. It’s sweet, smooth, and has the sensation of fizziness. Is it kind of odd for a fragrance? I guess, but the smell is actually really good.

It’s really a mixture of almond, vanilla, and orange. That’s the main trinity that I pick up from the opening few minutes of the scent. It is later joined by the star anise note. Mandorlo di Sicilia is very well blended and each note is super fresh.

Peach is there too. However, the note doesn’t stand out too often on my skin. Most of the time, it’ll just be a part of the overall feeling of sweetness with the fragrance.

The fragrance takes on a powdery quality but I don’t think that it goes as far as some others. I guess, as a unisex scent, Acqua di Parma wanted to not let it go too far into the feminine category. I definitely feel that they accomplished that task, as this perfume does have a universal appeal to it.

As it dries down, I get mostly the vanilla note with a powdered sugary sweetness, enveloping the points which I sprayed. The almond note is still present and pleasant.

This is quite a light and airy fragrance, that I just catch whiffs of throughout the wear. At times, I forget that I even have it on, and then I notice the wonderful scent of Mandorlo di Sicilia.

It’s a nice and refreshing wear to have on during the day. Yes, sometimes the sweetness can be annoying, but overall I think it’s a fantastic wear. It goes through periods of being fizzy, creamy, and powdery which is an interesting bit of development.

Sillage, How Long does it Last, Versatility

Projection wise, again, it’s a light fragrance. Though, it isn’t weak in my mind. It starts off moderate, but hangs around during the day. Again, it’s a perfume that will hit you, even after you thought it had disappeared or weakened.

The actual reach of Mandorlo is pretty good, it’s just not going to weigh down on the wearer with a thick cloud.

Longevity is better than some of the other Acqua di Parma fragrances I’ve worn. It’s not a beast by any means, however, I get 6-7 hours out of this one. Not a monster, but for what this scent is, it feels like plenty long for almost any scenario.

This is a truly unisex type of fragrance and feels more casual. That being said, it would have no problem being worn at the office or even for romantic wear. It’s not a sexy scent but it is kind of beautiful.

It can fit in pretty much anywhere during the daytime. You might want another option for evenings, but this could probably work decently in the nightlife.

Seasonally, it has enough of the citrus aroma and is light enough for summer. However, it can definitely fit in year round, and not be out of place. To me, it is best in moderate temperatures, but it isn’t severely limited outside of that.

This is one of the Acqua di Parma fragrances that can cover a lot of ground and be a signature scent outside of just winter or summer, like many of the other offerings.

Overall Impressions of Mandorlo di Sicilia

Overall, would I recommend Mandorlo di Sicilia? Yes, I enjoy it quite a bit. I think that it is one of the best fragrances from Acqua di Parma. BUT, it is not for everyone.

If you’re someone who doesn’t like that root beer kind of smell or vanilla or powdery scents, you aren’t likely to appreciate this. If that description fits you, then, definitely check it out.

This one is a bit different from the usual use of citrus. I really like its unique smell and versatility. That opening fizziness and the later powdery sweetness, is a great little combination.

The performance is fairly middle of the road, but kind of sneaky with the way it hangs around. You’ll think that it’s gone, and then, catch the aroma just off of the skin. Mandorla di Sicilia does capture that near perfect unisex balance, so that anyone can truly enjoy the perfume.