Cologne Reviews

Hamptons by Bond No. 9

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In today’s review, we have another entry from Bond No. 9. It is a unisex fragrance called Hamptons. I’ve been wearing this around for the past few days, out of the sample vial that I received. In this post, I’m going to cover what’s in it, what it smells like, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a buy.

My Verdict

Bond No. 9 Hamptons is a very clean citrus-floral fragrance with sharp lime and lemon notes layered over jasmine, sandalwood, and a slightly herbal touch of sage. The opening can feel somewhat harsh, but it becomes smoother, greener, and more balanced after roughly 30 minutes.

The dry down has a fresh-out-of-the-shower quality, blending jasmine, sage, soft woods, and understated florals. It is pleasant and easy to wear, though it is more clean and casual than seductive or attention-grabbing.

Overall, Hamptons does its job well and is a solid choice for someone seeking a low-key, long-lasting citrus-floral scent.

🌊 Hamptons by Bond No. 9 — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Citrus Floral Woody
Key Notes Bergamot, Lime Blossom, Jasmine, Sage, Sandalwood, Cedar, Musk, Rose, Magnolia
Season Spring, Summer, Warm Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Daily Wear, Work, Daytime, Relaxed Social Settings
Longevity Double-digit hours of wear, even with only two sprays
Sillage Strong at first, then settles into a consistent moderate projection
Rating ★★★★☆ 8.1 / 10
Quick Verdict A hyper-clean citrus-floral fragrance with sharp lime, jasmine, sage, sandalwood, and soft woods. The opening can be harsh, but it becomes smoother, greener, and more balanced during the dry down. Strong early projection, excellent longevity, and an easygoing unisex character make it a solid warm-weather option, although it is more fresh and casual than sexy or distinctive.

Hamptons by Bond No. 9 Overview

Notes include: bergamot, lime blossom, jasmine, rose, sandalwood, magnolia, musk, sage, and cedar

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Hamptons by Bond No. 9 For Men And Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3-Ounces

My Full Review

The opening citrus notes of Hamptons are quite sharp. I think it’s the fact that it is blending with the floral notes, which gives it this kind of odd feeling versus the usual citrus fare.

For me, 10-15 minutes into wear, I start to get whiffs of the jasmine and sage notes, that reminds me of walking through a green garden during springtime.

The jasmine remains the strongest floral note for me, throughout the wear. Not much rose or magnolia, at all. Very light and they sit underneath the main accord.

Hamptons is a hyper clean smelling scent, due to the power of the lime/lemon aroma that it generates that sits on top of what could be considered soapy/body wash ingredients including jasmine and sandalwood.

The slight herbal tinge provided by the sage, is one of the reasons that I think this gets compared with Creed’s Silver Mountain Water. I totally get the comparison but I feel that the Creed is the better fragrance, even if neither of these are really my style. As I recall, the Creed has a metallic quality that this one lacks.

It only becomes more green, fresh, and woody as it dries down. The sharp citrus opening fades at about 30 minutes for me and the scent feels much more well blended. Hamptons is so light and clean, in a very fresh out of the shower, kind of way.

The trail end is a woody mix of sage and floral notes. It’s a really nice mix, and develops into something quite a bit different from the opening act of the perfume.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts out on the strong end but then morphs into a much more moderate fragrance. The sillage doesn’t require that much, in terms of sprays, because it can

The longevity is absolutely great. We’re talking double digit hours of wear with only two sprays, which should be how all fragrances at this price point perform.

For seasonality, I’d say spring, as a definite. Also, would work in the summertime. It wouldn’t perform badly in the cold, but I’d much rather wear something else that is more suited to the colder months of the year.

Hamptons is a casual scent. It’s pleasant but not really sexy. It is kind of ambiguous, as it is in reality a unisex scent. It would absolutely work on male or female.

Overall Impressions of Hamptons

Overall, would I recommend Hamptons? I like it. It just isn’t my own personal style. If you’re looking for a really clean citrus/floral, that is low key and gives good performance, it’s a solid buy.

Just understand what you’re getting with this one and don’t expect some super sexy ‘club’ cologne. For what it does, Hamptons does it well.

Again, it’s similar to Silver Mountain Water by Creed, but not exactly. I wouldn’t try to substitute one for the other. Hamptons isn’t one of my favorite Bond scents, but it can definitely be worthwhile for the right person.

Polo Deep Blue Parfum by Ralph Lauren

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It’s 2020 and Ralph Lauren has launched another fragrance, adding to the laundry list of offerings to the Polo Blue line up. This one, is called: Polo Deep Blue Parfum. I got to test it out and wanted to share my initial thoughts on this new release. How does it smell? Perform? When should it be worn? Is Deep Blue even worth a try?

2026 update: This one is now discontinued. You can still find bottles online, if you’re interested.

My Verdict

Polo Deep Blue Parfum is a fresh, masculine aquatic fragrance with an appealing opening built around green mango, citrus, sage, and a salty oceanic accord.

Performance is solid, with roughly 7–9 hours of longevity and strong early projection that gradually settles closer to the skin.

It works especially well as an easygoing spring and summer scent for daytime, casual wear, or semi-formal occasions.

Overall, it is not groundbreaking, but it is an attractive and versatile crowd-pleaser that may be one of the better fragrances in the Polo Blue line.

🌊 Polo Deep Blue Parfum by Ralph Lauren — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Fruity Aquatic Woody
Key Notes Green Mango, Grapefruit, Bergamot, Deep Ocean Accord, Sage, Cypress, Fir, Ambroxan
Season Spring, Summer, Warm Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Daily Wear, Daytime, Night Out, Semi-Formal Events
Longevity Around 7–9 hours, with the final few hours sitting closer to the skin
Sillage Strong early projection that gradually settles to a moderate level
Rating ★★★★☆ 7.9 / 10
Quick Verdict A fresh and masculine aquatic scent with green mango, citrus, sage, salty oceanic notes, and woody undertones. The opening is bright and captivating, while the dry down becomes more familiar and ambroxan-heavy. It delivers solid longevity, good early projection, and plenty of warm-weather versatility. Not especially complex or groundbreaking, but an attractive crowd-pleaser and a strong entry in the Polo Blue line.

Polo Deep Blue Overview

Notes include: Hawaiian Green Mango, fir, sage, Deep Ocean Accord, Cypress Oil, ambroxan, grapefruit

Click here to try: POLO DEEP BLUE by RALPH LAUREN 

My Full Deep Blue Review

With lock downs ending, I’ve had a chance to try Polo Deep Blue, for an initial test run. Usually, I like to wear a fragrance multiple times before a review, but I’m going to give my initial thoughts on this scent and update later.

I gave it three solid sprays on my arm, at the pulse point, with the tester bottle right before exiting the store. That turned out rather favorably, as Deep Blue smelled wonderful outside in the fresh air.

Initially, you get a great mango note. This is the same note found in the Polo Black series, which is a great addition to this one. The mango is blended with some lighter citrus (bergamot and grapefruit) and what Ralph Lauren is terming ‘Deep Ocean Accord’.

What is deep ocean accord? Well, a somewhat salty aquatic aroma. Not quite the same marine note, like Bvlgari Aqua, but a fresh and pretty captivating aroma.

The next wave brings the fresher herbal and woody notes. I mainly get sage and cypress. During the part of the wear, it feels more like Polo Blue EDP. A different wood highlighted, but the sage is a dead ringer. More aquatic and with the mango, but you do get the close resemblance.

A few hours in, the Deep Ocean, smells almost purely like ambroxan. The note heavily featured in Sauvage, Dylan Blue, and many others. Deep Blue comes across as a fruity and fresh herbal scent sitting in a pool of ambroxan.

The latter stages feel like some kind of mix between Polo Blue EDP and EDT, with that ambroxan presence and added mango. It’s fine, but it’s not nearly as intriguing as the opening act. The opening hour or so, is great, and I wanted it to continue exactly like that.

Sillage 

Polo Deep Blue projects itself well, before slowly decaying during the rest of the wear. I’d say it starts off strong, at least strong enough to be over-sprayed, but it isn’t a complete powerhouse.

If you’ve tried the other Polo Blue colognes, this one is on the same sort of level as Blue EDP. Not weak, but not an insane sillage monster.

How Long does Deep Blue Last?

In total, I got somewhere in the 7-9 hour range. I kind of lost track of the time, during this initial test run, but it was a solid performer. Again, the ability to project itself does die down, as it wears on.

The last few hours definitely hung close to the skin, but the first 2+ hours performed quite well.

Versatility and Season

When should you wear Deep Blue? As far as the season goes, this is a spring and summer fragrance, all the way.

The oceanic influences, the citrus, and vibe just screams out summer. It will be most useful as a casual to semi-formal daily wear. Deep Blue is attractive enough to gather compliments and go from daytime to night wear.

Though, I would most prefer to wear this during the day, while out and about around town. It is suitable for all age ranges. If you’re looking for a more niche or grown up scent, be aware that this is more of a mass crowd pleaser. It’s a good one, but won’t be the height of complexity.

Overall Impression of Polo Deep Blue Parfum

Overall, do I like Deep Blue Parfum? I do. I think that it’s a great take on the Polo Blue name and structure. It might be my favorite release under this Polo Blue banner, but I’ll need to spend more time wearing it, to reach that conclusion.

You get an attractive and fresh fragrance. It has plenty of overlap with both the EDT and EDP versions, but with enough distinctions, to separate itself…especially early on. Later, it does smell more like the others.

I like the Deep Ocean Accord, which seems to be a combination of ambroxan and something else, I can’t quite pick out. That note does get overused, but I like it here.

The mango, sage, and woody undertones are very appealing and strike a masculine tone. This is probably the most aquatic feeling of the Polo Blue line. Is it different enough to own Deep Blue, if you’ve already got a bottle of the EDT or EDP?

Initially, yes. How much you want a bottle of a similar fragrance, is up to you. If you’re looking for a new summer cologne, this is one to check out. Groundbreaking? No, but a nice all around fragrance, with mass market appeal.

 

Legend for Men by Mont Blanc

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Mont Blanc Legend is a pretty popular cologne and for very good reason, it smells good to almost everyone. The fragrance is featured in a black and metallic bottle which could be characterized as minimalist in style, but I’ll tell you looks really damn cool.

Introduced in 2011, this scent has quickly become a hit due to its versatility and universal wear-ability among all different types of men.

While it isn’t some off the wall or highly unique scent, it is a very pleasant one, which I will now take a closer look at in this post. How does it smell? What are the notes? How long does it last?

My Verdict

Mont Blanc Legend is a crisp, clean fragrance built around lavender, pineapple, apple, tonka bean, and smooth sandalwood. The opening is lightly fruity, but lavender quickly takes control and gives the scent its smooth, dry, masculine character.

It is simple, pleasant, and unlikely to offend anyone, making it an easy choice for work, school, or casual everyday wear. The scent is also highly versatile, particularly during spring and summer, though it can work through most of the year.

Overall, Legend smells good and is worth considering in a smaller bottle, but it is not especially unique or long-lasting.

🖊️ Mont Blanc Legend — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Fruity Aromatic Woody
Key Notes Lavender, Pineapple Leaf, Apple, Bergamot, Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, Geranium, Oakmoss, Lemon Verbena, Rose
Season Spring, Summer, Fall, Mild Winter Weather
Occasion Work, School, Casual Wear, Daily Wear, Dates, Social Events
Longevity Around 5–6 hours before gradually fading from the skin
Sillage Light to moderate — noticeable at close range, but never overpowering
Rating ★★★☆☆ 7.2 / 10
Quick Verdict A smooth, clean, and highly versatile lavender fragrance with pineapple, apple, tonka bean, and sandalwood. It is masculine, pleasant, and easy to wear for work, school, or casual situations. The scent is not particularly unique, and its light projection and 5–6-hour longevity are the main drawbacks. Best considered as an affordable smaller-bottle purchase, especially since Legend Night is more interesting overall.

Mont Blanc Legend Overview

legend

Notes include: Bergamot, Pineapple Leaf, Sandalwood, Apple, rose, oak moss, lemon verbena, geranium, lavender,  And Tonka Bean

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Eau de Toilette 3.3 fl.oz.

My Full Review

While there is a pineapple note within Legend, I don’t get the same type of strong opening like I would from another pineapple note such as Creed’s Aventus. The note is definitely in there, it is just that it doesn’t stand out as much.

What I do notice in the opening, is how utterly crisp and fresh smelling Legend is. This cologne has a very clean scent and doesn’t seem thick or heavy in the air as some other colognes might.

The bergamot here isn’t sharp or bright, pretty subdued, and gets lost in the shuffle pretty quickly. 

The opening is more fruity than the rest of the wear, though, it really isn’t typical. It smells a lot like an advanced version of Playboy New York, which is wholly watered down, when compared to this.

In the beginning, I pick up quite a bit of tonka bean, but it smells kind of different to my nose. I think one of the other notes in this composition, is making it seem different.

The lavender note quickly takes the lead with Legend. I think that this note is what takes the sharp edge off of the pineapple, which at this point, is also joined by the apple.

There is some smooth sandalwood lurking around in the composition but it isn’t overtly powerful. It’s pretty linear from here on out, with lavender and the fruit notes, with pineapple in the front.

Ultimately, what I get from Mont Blanc Legend, is a smooth and somewhat dry lavender blend with fruity notes. The further along is gets in the wear, the more everything starts to run together, into a sort of generically fresh scent. It’s pretty simple and isn’t going to offend anyone around you.

Sillage and Longevity

Projection wise, it is a light to moderate fragrance. The sillage isn’t very huge on this one and compared to the newer, Legend Night, it is downright weak in comparison (spoiler: Legend Night is better).

It’ll be noticeable for those who get quite close to you. Which is fine, for many uses, but the overall performance is never that great.

The longevity on this one seems to go about 5-6 hours, slowly working closer to the skin, until it fades completely. I have never really gotten a long wear out of Legend.

Versatility

Legend is a very versatile fragrance in that it can be worn almost year round and to any type of event or environment. I think that it would be best in the spring or summer months but I wouldn’t be opposed to wearing it during the autumn or even on certain wintry days.

This is they type of cologne you can quickly spray on before work or school and not have to second guess it at all.

This isn’t a cologne that will overpower the room, but is one which will grab some attention, because its clean scent is also a fairly seductive one.

The opening then transitions into something sweeter but still manly, which I think is the reason it gets complemented by women. It feels much more casual to me, though, rather than something that’s built for the nightlife.

Overall Impressions of Mont Blanc Legend

Legend while containing fruity notes is a masculine scent which is probably best suited for younger guys who are in their 20s, though I wouldn’t exclusively pigeonhole it as such.

This isn’t really a ‘unique’ scent, in that, there are others which smell similar but it is one that stands out from the crowd a bit.

It has a moderate longevity, which is my only real complaint about this cologne, if it lasted longer it’d be on my list of definite everyday wears but it isn’t completely weak either like Artisan. Honestly, the longevity is just okay.

Overall, I’d say that Legend is a buy, I would just get a small bottle of it though because I prefer something that is longer lasting but I for sure dig the scent.

However, I doubt I ever would buy a bottle of this because, Legend Night is so much better and more interesting to me.

Hugo Element by Hugo Boss

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I recently got a hold of a sample of Hugo Element cologne by Hugo Boss. I’ve already done plenty of Hugo Boss reviews on this site and I’ve been wearing Hugo Red seemingly a lot over the summer, so I was looking forward to getting to try out another scent from this house’s line.

In this post, I want to explore how this fragrance smells, how it performs, when it could be worn, and whether or not it is worth a buy.

 

My Verdict

Hugo Element is a crisp, refreshing aquatic fragrance built around juicy citrus, ginger, and a light watery quality. The scent itself is enjoyable and easy to wear, although it becomes fairly linear after the opening and does not offer much complexity.

Its biggest weakness is performance, with soft projection and only around four hours of longevity before it fades away.

Overall, Element smells good, but its weak performance and discontinued status make it difficult to recommend over stronger alternatives.

💧 Hugo Element by Hugo Boss — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Aquatic Citrus
Key Notes Ginger, Citrus, Coriander, Calone, Cedar, Coumarin
Season Spring, Summer, Warm Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Work, Daytime, Errands, Outdoor Activities
Longevity Around 4 hours before fading into a skin scent
Sillage Soft to moderate — stays fairly close to the skin
Rating ★★★☆☆ 6.6 / 10
Quick Verdict A crisp and refreshing aquatic fragrance with juicy citrus, ginger, and a light watery character. It smells pleasant and is easy to wear during warm weather, but the experience is fairly linear. Weak projection and roughly four hours of longevity keep it from being an easy recommendation, especially now that it has been discontinued.

Hugo Element Overview

hugo element

Notes include: ginger, coriander, cedar, courmarin, calone

Click here to try: Hugo Boss Cologne for Men, Element, 3.0 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

Note: I’m updating this page after 6 years to meet the new formatting of the website. Boss Element has been discontinued for a long while at the point.

The opening of Hugo Element is kind of an aquatic blast of ginger for the first 5 minutes before transitioning into a citrus laced fragrance. I have to say, the citrus notes in this are fantastic, they are really fresh and juicy.

Element is quite crisp and aquatic, which I found to be very attractive, and I was beginning to enjoy this cologne a whole lot. The calone note isn’t too heavy here, just adding a light impression of being aquatic.

That said, it is a very linear experience, after 10 minutes you know exactly what you’re getting. There isn’t any real complexity, just clean/aquatic/citrus with ginger undertones.

Usually, I would write about its development, but there doesn’t seem to be any here with this Boss scent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Element isn’t great. It is on the softer side of moderate, which may be better than expected for a cologne like this. It’s not a heavy scent that’s going to leave a long scent trail in your wake.

It’ll stay 3-5 feet from your skin and then move back closer in fairly rapid succession. Not absolutely terrible, but a boost in power would’ve made Element a better option for most guys.

Longevity is also another issue. It not only quickly becomes a skin scent, it also only lasts around 4 hours, which is disappointing. Just when you’re getting to really enjoy what the fragrance is bringing to the table, it’s already fading away.

I know not to expect too much from this sort of light, watery, and warm weather scent…but something more would’ve been fantastic.

I feel like this could’ve been a really nice spring/summer casual wear, had it been designed with better performance. It would be safe to wear to work, but it’s not a formal sort of fragrance at all. Though, outdoors or out around town during the day and it’d be cool.

A good all around balance is here, just the execution doesn’t have a payoff.

Overall Impressions of Hugo Element

Overall, is Hugo Element a buy? I can’t say yes. I actually like the fragrance itself, it works, and has great citrus notes. With a little added intensity, this would’ve been a nice scent to wear around during the summer.

The citrus is really nice, I love ginger, and it is a refreshing wear. It had some positive aspects in place, it just needed a way to bring it all together better.

I’m sure you could double the application and get a longer lasting use out of it; but why bother with better performing scents out there.

Again, this one has been discontinued for a long time. Not too big of a deal that it’s gone, as it’s not too difficult to find something else in this style. Hugo Element is mostly forgettable.

1 Million Parfum by Paco Rabanne

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1 Million has once again spun off another flanker in that gold ingot bottle, this time it’s a Parfum version. I hadn’t done any research on 1 Million Parfum before I got a hold of the sample, so I didn’t know what to expect.

Would it just be an amped up 1 Million or closer to Intense? Well, I was actually quite surprised by the direction Paco Rabanne went with this one. So, please continue below as I share my complete thoughts on this scent.

My Verdict

1 Million Parfum takes the familiar sweetness of the original in a more unusual tropical-floral direction, opening with juicy grapefruit, tiare flower, solar leather, and a slightly salty resinous warmth.

The opening is easily the strongest part, creating an attractive beachy character while still retaining the recognizable 1 Million DNA.

Overall, it is an enjoyable and distinctive release, but I would still choose 1 Million Privé, Elixir, or the original ahead of it.

☀️ 1 Million Parfum by Paco Rabanne — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Sweet Floral Leathery Amber
Key Notes Grapefruit, Tiare Flower, Tuberose, Solar Leather, Pine, Ambergris, Resin
Season Fall, Winter, Spring, Mild Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Dates, Night Out, Social Events, Daytime Around Town
Longevity Around 8–10 hours, providing dependable full-day performance
Sillage Strong early projection that gradually settles without becoming weak
Rating ★★★★☆ 8.1 / 10
Quick Verdict A sweet tropical-floral take on the familiar 1 Million style, combining grapefruit, tiare flower, solar leather, resin, and salty ambergris. The distinctive beachy opening is the highlight, while the later tuberose, leather, and pine dry down is simpler and may become tiring. Strong performance and an attractive youthful character make it a solid release, though it is not the best fragrance in the 1 Million line.

1 Million Parfum Overview

Notes include: grapefruit, solar leather, tuberose, pine, resin, amber

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne One 1 Million Pure Parfum Natural Spray For Men 100ml / 3.4oz

My Full Review

The opening act of 1 Million Parfum does bring to mind for me, the original 1 Million, but with alterations. If you replaced the blood orange with a juicy grapefruit note and added a warm semi-tropical twist to the leather, you’d have a good chunk of Parfum’s start.

I actually like it. It’s sweet, but has a unique flair that I wasn’t entirely expecting. This is a fragrance that does pull off a unique take, while maintaining that clear 1 Million DNA.

The white floral accord here, is really what helps to separate it from the pack. Initially, there seems like there is a good amount of tiare flower in this. That with the ‘solar notes’ and leather, gives this one a sort of island/beachy vibe. 

Yet, later on it will turn into mostly a tuberose fragrance. Anyway, the opening act is that grapefruit, tiare, solar leather blend. Underneath that, is a slightly salty ambergris and resin, which gives this one some more thickness.

It sticks to that track for a while, before the pine notes freshness peaks in. Leather and pine together do have that super fresh aroma, but it sort of stays underneath some of the other ingredients. It’s just a perpetual presence.

The final dry down is pretty simple. To me, it’s a blend of tuberose, leather, ambergris, and the remnants of the pine note. Honestly, it’s my least favorite part of 1 Million Parfum. Which sucks, as that’s what it is for most of the wear, after the first few hours.

It’s kind of a letdown after that opening act. I liked the kind of tropical aroma version of the original 1 Million, it was a nice change of pace from the norm.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here doesn’t feel extreme to me, but it is pretty powerful at first. It does project itself well, but sometimes it seems like it sneaks up on you, especially once that pronounced grapefruit note has fade. But, it’s not disappointing.

Longevity seems to fall in the 8 to 10 hour range. Very good, but not elite, at least on my skin. It does hang around for at least a full workday, so, no real complaints. I don’t know, I was expecting it to be more of a beast, but it’s really solid.

Seasonally, I’d say, autumn through spring. It’s not a super heavy fragrance and it does have some tropical elements, but I’m not sure that it’ll do well in the heat of summer. It’s already a warm scent, with resin, and plenty of ambergris. As such, it might melt.

Like the other entries in the 1 Million line, this does have a more youthful vibe. Not like the teenager quality of Lucky, rather, closer to Prive. Once it settles, it does have a mature and stylish character.

 

I’d wear this casually, out a night, or walking around town during the day. Wouldn’t really classify it as an office wear. Attractive and it does have a certain sexiness to it. 1 Million Parfum isn’t going to be one you reach for on formal occasions. 

Overall Impressions of 1 Million Parfum

Do I like this fragrance? I do. However, I’m also not blown away by it. I like the opening act way more than I do the draw down. Way too much of a fresh floral between the pine, leather, and tuberose…which, admittedly isn’t one of my favorite flowers.

I don’t think it’s a bad option, though. I do like that they at least went in a unique direction with Parfum, while giving nods to the original. For me, I’d still rather wear Prive (if they still made it) and probably the original 1 Million ahead of this. 

Update: Also, 1 Million Elixir. Since that has come out since this original review was posted.

It wears on me, as it moves along, and I almost get fatigued from that dry down. Though, I can see why there will be people who will be completely into Parfum. I won’t be getting a full bottle, but it’s not a terrible fragrance, and it definitely has enjoyable aspects.

It could’ve been something really different and interesting, but didn’t make it to anything approaching classic status.