Cologne Reviews

Defy EDT by Calvin Klein

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Defy is a cologne release from Calvin Klein that the brand put out back in 2021. It was good to see them taking a bit of a break from just putting out Eternity flankers all of the time and starting a new line. I got a sample of this recently to finally do a proper review and see if it’s worthwhile to actually purchase.

What does Defy by Calvin Klein Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, amber, vetiver, lavender

Click here to try: Defy EDT by Calvin Klein

My Full Review

Upon first spraying Defy, I’m immediately reminded of Y EDT from YSL. Very similar style with the blue-ish aroma, bergamot, and heavy use of ambroxan. Not one to one exactly the same, but the style is very much related.

The initial citrus here is juicy and has a nice freshness. It kind of fades quickly from prominence in favor of the lavender note.

For a while, there is more of a balance between the bergamot, ambroxan, and lavender. But, the lavender will consolidate more control, as we progress. Funny enough, the ambroxan does back off and there is another round in which the bergamot comes through more on my skin.

Defy doesn’t really develop all that much though. It’s like a generic ‘blue-ish’ cologne smell mixed with that lavender. There is some vetiver in the dry down, but even that isn’t too heavy or involved.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this is light to moderate. Defy isn’t a fragrance that is going to leave a massive cloud in one’s wake or dare to take over a room. It’s just kind of middle of the road, extending out maybe to 5 feet, at its peak.

The longevity is also meh. I get about 5, maybe 5.5 hours on skin. So, if you do end up going for this one, you’ll probably have to bring the bottle with you for re-application later in the day.

Seasonally, it is good for the spring and summer. I don’t know that I’d wear it on the hottest days, though. It’s seems like a better play on moderate to warm days. I wore it out on a day where it was 65 degrees Fahrenheit and that seemed like a good spot for Defy to work in.

This cologne does lean more towards younger guys. It’s not a formal or refined kind of fragrance. Casual or a daily wear for something like school. It has enough mass appeal to grab some complements, but it’s a very basic and entry level cologne.

Not particularly going to stand out as unique, but younger guys could do a lot worse than this, as far as scent goes.

Overall Impressions of Defy EDT

Overall, do I like Defy? It’s okay. I think that it can be pleasant at times, but isn’t ever something that’s remarkable. Sure, it’s close to the original Y EDT in terms of smell and style, but that’s till better than this CK release. And, I’m not even a big fan of that one.

I don’t hate this either. If you can get it for cheap and are in your teens or twenties, this could be a very serviceable cologne for you. It smells nice enough and doesn’t have any repulsive qualities about it.

The opening is probably the highlight for me. I do like that bergamot note, when it is at its strongest. The dry down is fine, just not dynamic.

The performance isn’t great, which makes it even less appealing, even if you enjoy the smell. Five-ish or so hours, isn’t going to cut it for most guys. Especially, if this is selling a retail. I would only shop at discounters and see if they ever have this one sale. Outside of that, I probably wouldn’t even bother.

Love for Him EDT by Tiffany & Co.

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Love for Him is a release by Tiffany & Co. that came out back in 2019. It’d been a while since the jewelry company had put out a men’s fragrance and this was right before LVMH bought the brand. I hadn’t tried this one out, but recently got a sample to test. How does it smell? Is it long lasting? Even worth a try?

What does Tiffany & Love for Him Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, ginger, cardamom, cypress, juniper, vetiver, sequoia, sandalwood

Click here to try: Love for Him EDT

My Full Review

The opening of Love for Him is bright, fresh, and quite pleasant. The mandarin orange takes the lead up top, but isn’t allowed to overpower the other notes.

Ginger and cardamom are giving this a light spiciness to develop that freshness. The cardamom here is the type with the lemony finish, which accentuates the orange note. Not at all massive in the mix and the ginger note is definitely favored.

So, yeah, this does have a similar style to the Bleu de Chanel fragrances. Not the same exactly, but with citrus and ginger and woods…you’re going to get that kind of vibe.

The mandarin will begin to take more of a back seat, as does that cardamom. Love now becomes a woodier scent, with a drier freshness rather than juicy and spicy.

On my skin, the cypress comes through more initially. Then, the vetiver will be the focus. None of the woody notes really break up the balance of the scent, but some have a heavier weighting versus others.

Not a lot of sandalwood or juniper here. I was hoping that the sequoia note would have some more power, to make this a more distinct sort of cologne, but even that is relegated to the background.

Surprisingly, the ginger doesn’t completely fad away early on. I can pick it up really deep into the wear. The scent feels like a sparkling and slightly sweet woody cologne. The remaining citrus and ginger floats around an increasingly indistinct mass of woods.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This one is pretty middle of the road with the scent trail it’ll leave behind or how far it tends to pop off of the skin. You do get a nice 30-45 minutes, with some decent reach. Ultimately, this Tiffany & Co cologne is a lighter one.

That’s not to say it completely disappears and isn’t detectable. Just expect something that’ll be intimate instead of heavy and bold.

The longevity is actually pretty good in that sense. Yes, it’s lighter but it keeps going for up to 7.5 hours, on my skin. Is it super sheer at that point? Yep, though that doesn’t mean that it isn’t there.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summer wear. The brightness, the citrus, and the freshness of the woods all scream to be worn during the warmer months of the year.

Within that context it is pretty versatile. Any age can wear this. Any occasion wouldn’t be too much of a problem. Love for Him is pleasant, likeable, and will draw complements when it is detectable to those around you.

Could easily be a daily wear for this stretch of the year. You’d want to go with something else, if you want a bold nightlife kind of cologne. Outside of that, you’re good.

Overall Impressions of Love for Him

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, I think that it smells very nice. It’s nothing super unique or complex, but the aroma itself is attractive and something that can easily fit into your spring and summer lineup.

The mandarin orange note with the ginger and cardamom is a great opening act. Mandarin is usually one of my least favorite citrus notes, but it works here. Not too strong, but also doesn’t get annoying.

The brightness and ginger transitions into something woodier, giving Love for Him a different sort of freshness.

The performance is kind of a let down. If you want a strong and bold cologne, this one isn’t going to be it. Longevity is actually good, just not with a lot sillage behind it. Which, for a refreshing summer fragrance, I don’t have a problem with.

My only reservation with this one, is the price point. If you can get a nice discount, Love for Him is probably worth it. However, I’ve also seen it retail for over $100. To me, that’s a stretch.

Sure, it’s a nice fragrance but nothing that you need to really need to acquire at a high cost. It will probably be considered to simple or not unique enough for some people either. In the $50-75 range, I’d be a lot more comfortable picking up a bottle.

Uomo Born in Roma Intense by Valentino

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Uomo Born in Roma Intense is the 2023 flanker to the ongoing fragrance series by Valentino. I haven’t been a particularly big fan of Born in Roma entries thus far, especially the original release. As such, I wasn’t all that excited to try this Intense version out. How does it actually smell, though? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Uomo Born in Roma Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, amber, lavender, vetiver

Click here to try: Born in Roma Intense

My Full Review

Here’s how Valentino describes it: A fougere ambery fragrance combining the intensity of lavandin with an addictive vanilla.

Intense opens up with a fresh sweetness about it. The original was sweeter to me and had more of an Invictus style, but there is similarities here. One major difference is the lavender note that is present throughout.

It sort of tempers things from venturing too far into the candy-like sweetness realm. Though, it still flirts with it. I also appreciate the lack of mineral oil/saltiness in this Intense version. That gave me a headache while testing the original.

Intense becomes more of a lavender and vanilla combination after about 20 minutes or so. Very balanced and almost unisex with how it comes across. Could be a unisex version of the YSL Libre line.

They don’t seem to go into much detail regarding all of the notes. But, I think this has some of the same sage note, as the original and Coral Fantasy. Not to the same extent, however. Possibly some tonka bean? This fragrance totally has Luna Rossa Sport vibes.

The final dry down is like a lavender and vetiver blend on my skin. The vanilla and amber are in support, but this is much less sweet, and more of a floral/fougere aromatic for the rest of the way. Clean and easy to wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage opens up even stronger than Born in Roma. With that, I got 5-8 feet of projection off of where I sprayed. This seems to hit an extra foot or two for that first hour. Not massively more powerful, but it does take things to a slight higher level.

After that, it settles into the same sort of moderate performance. That being said, I still could detect it for a good long while without having to press my nose in closer.

It sticks around for 8.5-9 hours, on my skin. Very nice for a mainstream designer cologne like this. That should be a boost for its popularity.

Seasonally, this is going to be an autumn through springtime wear. It’s fresh, but just a little too heavy/thick for the summer months. In cold or moderate temperatures, Born in Roma Intense comes off well.

The versatility is one of its main strengths, if not the biggest selling point. Day or nighttime wear. You can wear it casually or more dressed up. It has mass appeal and an attractiveness that can work on dates.

For the non-enthusiast or collector of fragrances, you won’t need much more than something like this in your rotation.

Overall Impressions of Born in Roma Intense

Overall, do I like Intense? I do. It’s my favorite of the Born in Roma line thus far. It’s still nothing groundbreaking or anything, but Intense delivers a good experience overall.

I like that initial sweetness, in its more tolerable form versus the other entries in the series. That blended with a strong lavender, vanilla, and the amber coming from the base is nice. Not sickly and has a great freshness.

The back half of the wear is kind of boring to me. Doesn’t smell bad, but Intense gets pretty linear and the development is basically non-existent.

This isn’t too original. Similarities with the other Born in Roma’s, Luna Rossa Sport, and some of the Most Wanted by Azzaro fragrances. Not exactly like any of them, but takes cues from them all.

While it doesn’t hit the ‘great’ level for me, it does everything well enough that I think this one is pretty safe to grab a full bottle of for most guys. Unless you’re not a big fan of lavender, this probably won’t ever be a complete waste.

Personally, it’s too borderline for me to want a full bottle, but I’m glad that Valentino finally put out a good Born in Roma for men.

Light Blue Eau Intense Pour Homme by D&G

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I just posted my write up of the original Light Blue Pour Homme, and of course, I had to grab a decant of Light Blue Eau Intense to try out as well. This one was released back in 2017, after years of the original being a best seller and a staple of warm weather wear. How does this one stack up? Does is actually deliver intensity? Does it still smell good? Is it worth a purchase?

What Does Light Blue Eau Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, frozen grapefruit, juniper, aquatic accord, amber woods, musk

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Eau Intense starts off quite similar to the original, in many ways, but also as a standalone fragrance. The grapefruit and mandarin are still there, this time without the bergamot note, but the grapefruit is in a ‘frozen’ state.

It is chilled, bright, and sharp. Also, while the original had a peppery note, it is absent here and in the opening I pick up more of the juniper note instead.

One big difference, is the aquatic accord that is present in Eau Intense. It is slightly salty, but much less like an oceanic note, and more of like sitting by a pool with a slight chlorination.

Not to say that it smells strongly like pool water, but there is a familiar hint of that on a summer’s day. This version is chilled and refreshing and I really enjoy that aspect of the cologne.

Update: Coming back to this one, I now recognize the aquatic note to be the same one found in Living Stromboli. That one goes spicy and dry to pair with the aquatic accord, which ultimately isn’t as good as Eau Intense.

I think that it’s the way the juniper berries super fresh aroma, is interacting with the aquatic accord. It becomes heightened, and when paired with the citrus notes, creates a clean and refreshing scent.

Update: New batches seem to be the same. No degraded quality. This part of the wear smells really balanced between that grapefruit, juniper, and the aquatic notes. 

There is a feeling of slight spiciness, but not the same sharp pepper, as found in Light Blue Pour Homme. More of a blend of juniper and the emerging musk, stemming from the base of the composition.

As it dries down, more amberwood and musk, come out more and solidify the base of Eau Intense. However, the grapefruit, juniper, and aquatic notes dominate the composition throughout.

It’s a fairly linear and simplistic scent, which is to be expected for a summery aquatic such as this. Nonetheless, the citrus does tamper down a bit towards the end, and the marine notes are able to smell much more oceanic.

To me, the strength of the juniper and the woody notes really help to separate this version from the original. Everything is geared toward being super fresh, intense, while still being usable for when it gets hot.

Yes, the aquatic accord creates distinction, but the juniper really stands out to my nose. I like the grapefruit and mandarin, in the start, and they feel well blended.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Eau Intense lives up to the name. The sillage is strong for this type of fragrance, it’s not insane or anything, but it’ll be noticeable in the 4-6 feet range around you.

The longevity is also very good, I get about 9 hours of solid wear with it on my skin, but on an old t-shirt it kept right on going along.

For me, the sillage quiets down after an hour or two. It’s not a skin scent, at that point, but feels much lighter and airy. Still, I really dig how this fragrance performs on my skin.

It’s better than all of the other Light Blue Pour Homme fragrances, in terms of performance. It not only outlasts them all, it has more consistent sillage, in the process.

Seasonally, once again it is mainly for spring/summer, but like the original it can be worn year round without any issue. It’s got that same versatility. It can be worn casually or at the office or out on a date. It’s not really limited and is a good all around cologne.

Now, I probably wouldn’t make it a go to for more formal occasions or be a daily office wear. Plus, there are better options for romantic wear, but it can cover plenty of bases otherwise.

Though, in it’s most basic form, it is best used on a warmer day. It’s refreshing, and one that I have been loving to wear casually, during this summer.

So, while it has versatility, I’m going to stick to daily wearing it during spring/summer. It’s been occupying the same role that Eternity Aqua has, for me.

Overall Scent

Overall, do I like Light Blue Eau Intense? I actually like it a lot for a summer scent. It is really great while being utterly simple and easy to love.

I am digging it more than the original Light Blue, as D&G took what was working with that, and then made it better. I like how cold and smooth this one feels versus the spicier original.

The aquatic accord and juniper really add a fresher summer vibe. Not the same spiciness and woods as the original Light Blue has.

Update: To me, this is still the best of the Light Blue Pour Homme line. The more recent releases have given it a run for the top spot, but Eau Intense just does everything better in aggregate. 

It also has better strength and staying power. I can recommend and it is a good inoffensive scent for guys who want a fragrance to cover many bases with one bottle.

The dry down, can be fairly musky and has a dose of amberwood, which some might not like. That’s probably the main drawback with this one. It can be pretty synthetic smelling, at times.

However, most people seem to have positive feelings toward Eau Intense. It’s a very good aquatic, that delivers a pleasant smell, and does a fine job at not quitting early.

Diamonds for Him by Emporio Armani

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Diamonds for Him was released back in 2008 under the Emporio Armani label of Giorgio Armani. Even after all of these years, it still sticks around and has at least some limited availability for purchase. But, is it actually worth a try? Does it still hold up versus all of today’s options on the market?

What does Emporio Armani Diamonds Smell Like?

Notes include: Citrus, Bergamot, Cedar, Szechwan Pepper, Guaiac Wood, Ambroxan, Vetiver, Cocoa Bean

Click here to try: Armani Diamonds for Him

emporio diamonds

My Full Review

Coming back to Diamonds after all these years was a great nostalgic experience. The bergamot note leads things early on, with a blend of cacao and woodsy spices underneath. It’s bright, sweet, and fresh in this opening act.

The cacao note is going to be a highlight and grow in strength, as we move along. But, I really like the way that it sits underneath the citrus, guaiac wood, and hint of pepper. It all comes across a nuanced and balanced. Each sniff, gives me a slightly different aroma.

What’s interesting is that Diamonds has periods of a powdery or a bit of a dusty sort of smell. Not overwhelming to me, but it’s there.

One note that surprised me with its strength during this return to Emporio Diamonds, is the amber. Smooth and warm, almost combining with that rich cacao. The cacao is kind of wrapped up throughout the wear, despite being the dominant ingredient. It’s not a pure chocolate smell, actually has similarities to Valentino Uomo.

The bergamot will start to lose some of its potency. This one becomes drier and woodier. Guaiac, vetiver, and some cedar really provide a fresh boost as you transition into the middle of the wear.

The dry down is a woody fresh mix and the amber and cacao together. Much less of the spice and almost none of the bergamot. Any of the powdery quality has also evaporated away.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Diamonds isn’t a complete beast with how it projects. I’d say that it’s slightly above average, on the whole. The first hour or two will be pretty strong, maybe 5-7 feet from the skin, with normal sprays.

Thereafter, it is going to sit much softer in the air, probably 2-3 foot radius. Not bad, just not going to dominate a room in most cases.

The longevity on skin is about 6.5-7 hours for me. That’s good enough for most purposes, but I’ve never found this cologne to be a round the clock wear that won’t quit. If you need it for longer, bring a sprayer to reapply.

Seasonally, this one works great anytime but the height of summer. If it’s a little warm outside, Diamonds is still capable of being pleasant. In my experience, humidity will kind of make it smell a tad off. So, just avoid daytime in summer.

It does have the ability to go day or night. I wouldn’t mind it as a nightlife fragrance, it’s just not going to scream for attention, in that environment. Ideally, this is a fragrance that I’d wear during the day in autumn. That’s really when it is firing on all cylinders.

Overall Impressions of Diamonds

Overall, do I like Diamonds for Men? I do. I had a higher opinion of it when I was younger, but coming back to it, this Armani scent was really enjoyable.

The opening act is fresh and has a nice balance between all of the notes. I love the use of bergamot here, with its similarities in style to Valentino (which I have a full bottle of). Multi-faceted for a good while, before settling down into a woody cacao blend. It’s nice at that point, but I like the first half more.

The performance isn’t anything to brag about, but Diamonds is certainly a serviceable cologne in that department.

I’m not sure if this has been reformulated over the years or not. Going off of my memory, it smells like how I remember it. Then again, it’s not an exact measure.

I do recommend trying this one out, especially if you like a chocolatey aroma in your colognes. $40-75 dollar range would be okay. Beyond that, it might not be worthwhile. If bottles get scarce, the price can jump to insane levels. Personally, I wouldn’t bite if they do.