Cologne Reviews

Jimmy Choo Man Blue

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Continuing to work my way through the line of men’s fragrances by Jimmy Choo, today’s entry is, Man Blue, released back in 2018. This is another flanker cologne from the ‘Man’ series of scents. What’s this one like? How does it perform? When should it be worn? Is it even worth a purchase?

What does Jimmy Choo Man Blue Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, lavender, vanilla, sage, bergamot, pepper, amber, vetiver, cypress, and sandalwood

Click here to try: Jimmy Choo Man Blue Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Man Blue kicks off with a freshly clean aroma. The main things to notice up top is the sage, lavender, with some further spice and a slight bergamot.

The fruit notes aren’t too noticeable, when compared to the other Jimmy Choo Man lineup; but they are there to some extent. More of a general sweetness.

It’s not a heavy spice, but one that comes across as modern and inoffensive. After a few minutes of settling down, I do start to get a hint of apple, mixed in with the bergamot’s citrus scent. These notes are flanked by a peppery bite.

As it moves along, the fruit notes pretty much disappear, to my nose. The lavender quiets down, when vanilla and some amber pull through more noticeably. Jimmy Choo Man Blue becomes a bit warmer and sweeter, but the underlying woody base, helps to keep things smooth and masculine.

The only other difference for the rest of the wear, is how much the leather note makes itself be known, in the latter stages. It pairs very well, with the vanilla and amber.

Once you get to this stage, you pretty much know what you’re going to get. Amber, leather, sandalwood, and vanilla with the remaining sage and lavender notes rounding things out. All of this sits on a further, dry, woody base. It’s got sweet moments, with more of a spicy finish.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage for Man Blue isn’t all that heavy. I’d call it a lighter moderate fragrance. You’ll know it’s there, but you’re not going to dominate a room, with its projection power. 

I do like that it doesn’t just have an opening burst of good projection and is quite steady throughout. More of a slow burn versus a quick disappearance. Still, not a massive scent.

The longevity here is actually pretty good, however. Better than many of the other Jimmy Choo colognes. Man Blue can seemingly get somewhere in the 6-8 hour range, depending on the climate conditions. 

Seasonally, I’d say anything but the heat of summer. It’s not really a winter fragrance, but it is pretty nice in the cold. Blue, is more of an autumn wear in my mind, which can of course extend its wear through spring.

 

Blue Man is a casual sort of fragrance. You can wear it for a lot of situations, but it’s not something that is formal, a club beast, or business attire. Not to say that this fragrance is some teenager type of wear, it isn’t, just not super mature or anything like that.

This does have a pleasing smell. Women would like it, but it’s not the sexiest fragrance out there. As a casual to semi-formal kind of wear, it’ll essentially fit into any scenario in which you’d want to wear it.

Overall Impression of Jimmy Choo Man Blue

Do I like this cologne? I do. This is one that is very wearable and has a nice smell to it. It’s not insanely good, but for the right price, I’d totally add it to the collection. Blue is for sure one of the best of the Jimmy Choo lineup, which is full of decent fragrances. This dares to go up a level to ‘good’.

It does get compared with some of the Coach fragrances. I get that, to some extent, but it’s really not too overlapping with how it smells.

I enjoy the sage and lavender, most out of everything in here. Sort of surprising, as lavender isn’t my absolute favorite or anything. Nice generic fruity touches up top are also good. Leather, slight sweetness, with a creamy amber finish? All things that I enjoy.

The longevity is solid, but this isn’t a powerhouse scent. Nonetheless, Blue doesn’t seem to have any glaring weaknesses and is one of those colognes basically anyone can pick up and would probably like wearing.

I wills say, I think that I still prefer Jimmy Choo Man Intense versus this. That being said, this is a nice pickup, but I’d get it at a discount. This isn’t one that I’d pay full retail to own. 

Le Beau Male by Jean Paul Gaultier

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I’ve got a ton of samples that I need to do write ups and reviews on. One of these samples, if the subject of today’s post, Le Beau Male. This is a flanker fragrance from Jean Paul Gaultier of the classic, ‘Le Male’. It was released in 2013. How does this one stack up? What does it smell like? Is it worth a buy?

What does Le Beau Male by JPG Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, lavender, wormwood, orange blossom, musk, sage

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier Le Beau Male Spray, 6.8 Ounce

My Full Review

Jean Paul Gaultier has come out with more than a few flankers and special editions of the original ‘Le Male’ fragrance. This entry called, Le Beau Male, starts off with a very crisp and cool mint note. Actually, it takes a minute to really settle in, much like I experienced with Guerlain’s L’Eau Boisee.

Le Beau Male is wholly different from the original. Sure, it shares a few of the same notes but this is nothing like Le Male or Ultra Male. The mint note is the dominant player throughout, but the wormwood top note gives it a slightly herbal feel, which lends itself to Le Beau Male’s vibrant ‘greeness’.

Wormwood is used in absinthe, so, if you’re familiar with that aroma; it’s essentially what you’re getting with this JPG cologne. However, it is paired mostly with the sage note, at its peak.

It’s much less spicy than the other scents in this line. The mint and the sage are the only real spice to it and it’s further calmed by the lavender.

Overall, the composition is actually quite floral/herbal but it doesn’t ever take on a feminine quality. The orange blossom is a subtle touch and reminds me of L’Homme Intense.

The end of the wear is an herbal, floral, and somewhat musky finish. The musk is present mostly at this stage, but it doesn’t ever take on too much of a major role here. At least, on my skin it doesn’t.

Mint, wormwood, lavender, orange blossom, and musk; at varying degrees of strength.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I like the way it starts. It’s strong but it quickly becomes a skin scent, within a few hours, which is disappointing. It’s not entirely weak, but it has so much potential, if it only had that power behind it.

At first, I thought that I was getting something that sits in between Le Male and Ultra Male, in terms of sillage. It eventually drops below the original Le Male and doesn’t enjoy that long of a peak.

The longevity isn’t that great either, somewhere in the 5-7 hour range, and most of that is spent as a skin scent. Is that terrible? No, if it could maintain its sillage, I wouldn’t be disappointed by it at all really. Especially, if I could pick up a super cheap bottle.

The really cold mint seems like it’d be best on a warm day, just to break up the usual vibe of citrus and aquatic fragrances during that time. It’d be good as a casual scent in this scenario.

If it had better performance, I’d like to wear it as a summer evening cologne, because I really like the mint note here. Also, with the floral aspects it would sit well, in the humid night air.

I suppose, it still could be used then. However, I would probably still use it on those warm days, when I want something simple and non-offensive.

This one does skew younger and is a nice option for guys of high school and college age. Youthful vibe while not being completely immature.

Overall Impressions of Le Beau Male

Overall, would I recommend Le Beau Male? On clearance, maybe. I actually enjoy the aroma and even though it has little to do with the original Le Male, I think it could stand on it’s own. This is one of those where I’m let down by its performance, but like everything else about it.

The mint and orange blossom are the highlights for me. Wormwood adds some interesting elements to this one, but it never hits an absolute level of greatness. It’s all fine and quite wearable for what it is. Good freshie with enough substance to be useable.

I enjoy the Le Male lineup, so, Beau isn’t going to be a complete mess. It’s a cologne with plenty of potential, but doesn’t fully live up to it.

Update: Other options from this line, like Airlines are better. But for warmer weather options this is probably a better pick than In the Navy.

Though, Le Beau came out in 2013, and isn’t readily available in most places. So, it probably won’t be worth it for most guys nowadays. It’s a good scent, but was never going to be the best Jean Paul Gaultier cologne.

It’s not an amazing scent, but it is damn good and can be a nice change of pace for the summer. If you can get a cheap bottle, more sprays should help overcome the weakness, and make it a solid addition to a fragrance collection.

Code Profumo by Giorgio Armani

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I was quite pumped to get a new batch of sample fragrances to try out recently. I hadn’t heard anything about Armani Code Profumo and so had no expectations about it, nor even knew what notes made up this scent. I just figured that since it was from Giorgio Armani, that it might be a decent buy.

In this post, I want to give my impressions of this cologne, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth picking up a bottle. Update: This originally came out in 2016, I have since added more to the review, as I gained more experience with this scent.

What does Armani Code Profumo Smell Like?

armani code profumo

Notes include: leather, amber, tonka bean, cardamom, lavender, and nutmeg

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Code Profumo had me hooked after the initial spray. I like fragrances that are sweet, warm, and smooth and this one delivers on that amazingly well. To me, it is some close relative to The One by Dolce and Gabbana, 1 Million by Paco Rabanne, or even Versace Eros (the tonka bean). Plus, an added dash of Kouros Body.

The One is one of my favorite smelling colognes, it just has a problem with longevity on my skin, and it happens to share the amber and cardamom notes with Profumo.

The opening is mostly a mix of the warm amber note and the creaminess of the tonka bean. It’s sweet and somewhat candy-like in it’s presentation, sort of like 1 Million, without that grape bubblegum kind of smell that the Paco Rabanne cologne opens with.

There are two fruit notes here: mandarin orange and apple. I don’t personally pick up any apple, but the orange is there, it’s just subdued and not the usual bright citrus that you’d be used to.

As I’ve spent more time with Profumo, I’ve noticed that the sweetness here takes on a soda-like fizziness, it’s like a cream soda type of smell.

It kind of makes sense when you think about tonka bean, nutmeg, and cardamom blending together and how that would play itself out. It’s much warmer, less fruity at the top, and it doesn’t have the same amount of leather as the original Code.

The nutmeg note gives it a bit of spice which is smoothed out by the masculine leather. This is a new release for 2016 from Armani and I really think they hit a home run for people like me who love this kind of scent.

The opening is so sweet that it might scare some folks off, but the dry down is really great. Amber, leather, and tonka bean; these notes sit perfectly in the night air on a cold winter’s evening. Warm, enveloping, and inviting.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

It isn’t a very heavy fragrance but it does project itself pretty darn well. It isn’t a complete beast in that regard, but it does its job and doesn’t quit.

Code Profumo is more of a moderate fragrance that hangs around you, but won’t blow the doors off of people. It’s a cozy and sweet warmth, which is quite nice on the colder evenings.

Longevity is yet another plus sign for Code Profumo. This is an all day wear, that will hold long enough for any occasion that you may need to wear it. Seriously, the longevity is great, I could wear this on night’s out and hit double digit hours with it still going on my skin.

Update: Yep, this is a 10+ hour wear for me. Always got great performance out of Profumo.

I’d say this is a distinctly Fall/Winter fragrance and one that is great for nights out on the town. Code Profumo is a dark and sexy type of cologne that can also be worn on casual occasions and not feel out of place.

It doesn’t have the same bold almost in your face feeling that 1 Million can have and it isn’t weak like The One is. I like to wear it in a more dressed up situation but if I’m also out at a bar or something, in a relaxed atmosphere, Profumo gets the job done.

Overall Impressions of Code Profumo

Overall, would I rate this cologne a buy? Absolutely. I’m totally digging this scent right now, it’s great. Now, will every guy like it? Probably not, but most will. Like I said, if you don’t like warm/sweet fragrances, Code Profumo isn’t for you.

Update: Code Absolu has now been released and it is a slightly better version. You wouldn’t need both of them, so, I’d pick Absolu over Profumo, now.

Update 2: This one has been discontinued, so, you’ll have to find it a discounters nowadays. Still very much worth it, assuming it isn’t insanely priced.

Also, if you want something for the warmer months of the year, go with something else. However, if you need a new cologne for those crisp days and nights during autumn/winter, this should do the trick.

It’s got a great composition and performs super well. Code Profumo is safe enough to wear just about any time during the colder months, because it isn’t as loud or in your face as some of the other colognes on the market. It’s well balanced and a total joy to wear.

Guilty Absolute for Men by Gucci

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I have another scent from the Gucci Guilty line, that I am going to post a review of in the very near future, but I wanted to get this one out first. I have been sampling, Guilty Absolute, and wanted to share my thoughts while they were still fresh in my mind. How does this flanker compare to the rest? What does it smell like? Does it perform well? Is it worth a try?

What Does Gucci Guilty Absolute Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, vetiver, patchouli, cypress, woods

Click here to try: Gucci Guilty Absolute Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Guilty Absolute is a pretty distinct departure from the other fragrances, which bear the Guilty name. The opening hits hard, with an immediate leather, and a dry/dirty patchouli. It’s warm, somewhat spicy, but quite intense and surrounded by fresh woods.

I knew nothing about this formulation, going into the wear, and really wasn’t expecting something like this to come out of a Gucci Guilty fragrance. But, I like it.

This one also has a smoky aroma lurking around, as well. The cypress and golden wood notes, help bring about that. Up top, some people compare this to Dior Fahrenheit.

Is it? Meh, the dirty leather and patchouli, don’t have the same level of gasoline smell, to my nose. Plus, the violet leaf is noticeably missing. So, not really.

As it dries down, Absolute, becomes smoother and fresher. It’s less of a patchouli/leather scent and more of a leather/vetiver with dry woods. Not as in your face, but rich, warm, and dark. It’s a very masculine scent with an interesting depth to it.

The smoke is still around, but even it feels more tame and smoothed out.

Finally, it moves into being a leather and cypress scent, almost exclusively. The vetiver, doesn’t stick around the whole way, at least on my skin.

Sillage and Longevity

Guilty Absolute packs a punch. The sillage is pretty darn intense and extends a ways out there. I wouldn’t over spray this, though, it settles nicely.

Seriously, this is one of the stronger mainstream designer colognes, on my skin. Guilty Absolute completely radiates and surrounds me in a cloud. If you like leathery bombs, this is for sure one to check out.

Performance wise, this one gives you exactly what you want. It lets itself be known and will last for double digit hours. No complaints at all. I’m not sure the exact length of time, but I’ve noticed it hanging around 12 hours in.

Elite performance from a Guilty cologne is kind of funny, but Absolute pulls it off.

Versatility

Is this a super easy to wear mass appealing scent? Not really. It’s not going to appeal to every guy’s taste, but it is attractive, and will pull complements from a certain number of people.

It works best in the cooler temperatures, but within that it can be worn in a variety of occasions. Autumn and winter are a haven for this fragrance. Within those confines, you should still be able to get good use from it.

More casual or something you might want to wear more in the evenings. It could be used as a daily wear, provided you go light, and don’t expect something super formal.

Guilty Absolute will appeal to a more mature audience, but there will be plenty of younger men who dig this, because it does have a dynamic energy to it. Again, this isn’t an Invictus type of cologne with a lot of sweetness and the like.

Overall Scent

Do I like Gucci Guilty Absolute, overall? I do. It’s one that I would only be in the mood for, on occasion, but would completely love it during that time. It’s super leathery, earthy, dirty, dry, and woody.

It goes through stages and has fantastic performance. It isn’t one that will be in everyone’s wheel house, though, can totally be a signature fragrance for the right guy. It does everything well, it just comes down to whether or not this sort of cologne smells nice in your opinion.

It does take the Guilty line in a different direction from the original or even other limited edition flankers like the Love series. It’s kind of shocking to have a fragrance from this line have such massive sillage and longevity, but Absolute doesn’t skimp on the power.

The start is a bit harsh, not my favorite part, but I really enjoy the middle and latter stages. That initial leather, dirtiness of patchouli, and smoke just doesn’t much appeal to me. But, others might like it just fine.

The leather with the vetiver or when the cypress comes in for the final dry down, is great. Dark, smooth, with freshness, and warmth.

This is one, that if it sounds appealing to your personal style, you should give it a try.

Brooklyn by Bond No. 9

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So, I’m back to the site, after taking more than a month off from reviewing anything. I noticed that I hadn’t finished with all of my Bond No. 9 samples from a few months back and decided that I should get back to business. Today’s scent is Brooklyn, a unisex scent from the brand. How does it smell? What’s inside? Is Brooklyn worth a purchase? Scroll down to find out my complete take.

What does Brooklyn by Bond No. 9 Smell Like?

Notes include: gin, cedar, cypress, juniper berries, grapefruit, cardamom, leather

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Brooklyn Eau De Parfum Spray for Women, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Brooklyn starts out with a really dry blend of cypress, cedar, and leather. It is an interesting combination and strikes me as somewhat different than many other woodsy scents.

A few minutes into its life, those notes are met with an outburst of juniper berry and gin. This creates an herbal/boozy/woody triumvirate that is surprisingly fresh and unoffensive.

From there on out, Brooklyn is a pretty linear fragrance. There isn’t much change that I noticed while wearing it. This particular blend of notes seems to give off a fizzy drink aroma, as if you added seltzer water to gin and berries. Brooklyn is a very clean type of scent with a zesty kick to it.

Cypress and the mixed drink element, really dominate this scent, and if you’re not into that Brooklyn isn’t the right choice. It’s kind of an odd choice to represent Brooklyn with, but that’s basically what you get here.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Brooklyn isn’t the best. I sprayed 3 times on my forearm and couldn’t detect it unless I moved my nose particularly close. It’s fine that it’s not a beast, but it does seem kind of weak, on my skin at least.

Update: Coming back to this again, it is pretty middle of the road. Even the initial sprays aren’t all that powerful and Brooklyn is going to stay quite close to the skin. 3-6 feet at its maximum.

In terms of its longevity, I got about six hours out of it as a skin scent. Not amazing but not the worst that I’ve ever encountered either. Update: Yep, still getting about six hours out of this. It’s just not a formula that seems to last all that long.

Brooklyn is a unisex scent and I would say that it leans more to the masculine side of things. The dry woods being balanced out by boozy fruit, makes this one a solid spring/early summer wear, in my mind.

Still, women can easily wear this one too. It’d be a nice change of pace from the usual fruity and floral fare.

Very casual scent not one that would feel particularly sexy or engaging. Just pleasant. Dry and then fizzy, with a nice crisp feeling. You could wear this at night or around town during the day. I don’t know that you’d want to smell like gin at work, so I’d probably skip wearing it as a daily.

Overall Impressions of Brooklyn

Overall, would I recommend Brooklyn? I think the fragrance is decent. I just wish that it would last longer on my skin. I’m definitely not blown away by the scent, in the slightest. Though, I do appreciate what they were going for and its certain level of uniqueness.

Update: Coming back to this one after a few years, this does have a lot of the same style as Vodka on the Rocks by Kilian. Obviously, Brooklyn came out in 2008, so it is more original. However, I was really reminded of that newer fizzy boozy perfume. This one has the leathery accord and that cypress sticks out. 

I like the gin, cypress, and leather notes. It’s not my favorite alcoholic aroma (prefer rum or cognac scent), but it’s nice enough overall.

The problem of course, is its pricing. If the cost doesn’t bother you, I’d say try it out, if it appears intriguing. If it’s a stretch for you to afford, I’d skip this one.

It’s going to appeal to a certain niche segment of fragrance wearers. For most, Brooklyn is completely not necessary. It’s fresh and interesting, just not amazing, in any way.