Cologne Reviews

Hero EDT by Burberry

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Hero is the latest Burberry line of fragrances, following the long-running Mr. Burberry series. Hero EDT was the first release, brought out back in 2021, and has enjoyed plenty of success ever since. I’ve wanted to give this one a deeper review for a while now and finally bought myself a travel size decant of it. How does Hero EDT smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Burberry Hero EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: cedar, bergamot, juniper, black pepper

Click here to try: Hero EDT

My Full Review

Hero EDT kicks off with its citrusy and lightly spiced aroma taking hold. The bergamot here isn’t actually massive in the composition, to where it crowds out everything else, but it does have a large role here.

The black pepper gives you that spice, but the freshness really comes from the cedar accord that is going to be the mainstay of the tail end of this cologne.

But, early, the cedar and juniper will pretty much split duties. Aromatic, but a touch sweet and quite fresh. Black pepper isn’t too highly concentrated in the blend. However, I do think that it is a great addition to the citrus and woods.

As we move along, the citrus will start to drop off, as with the pepper note. So, you get that juniper and cedar blend really working the aromatic freshness angle.

This isn’t a super complicated scent. It’s has its moments of sweetness that come through, but the deeper that you get into the wear, the drier and more of a pure woods cologne it becomes.

The very end stages is all about the cedar blend. It almost smells like there is a vetiver here, but it’s probably just how everything blends in the mix. Woody and still quite appealing, albeit much lighter.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Like the EDP, this version of Hero starts off at the higher end of moderate, in terms of how it projects off of the skin and the scent trail that it leaves behind.

It also, rather quickly becomes a lighter fragrance. Still very detectable, but it is going to be sticking closer to your person versus hitting people across the room. An hour or so of that stronger projection. It’s actually about the same as EDP in this regard. At least, I don’t notice a difference.

While EDT has about the same ability to project as does the EDP version, the longevity is a slight step back. With this Hero, I get 7-8 hours of wear, depending on the conditions of the environment that I’m in.

Honestly, it’s got pretty good staying power for a mainstream designer EDT concentration. Amazing? No, but as a daily wear, I really wouldn’t complain too much about it.

Seasonally, Hero can work in almost any climate. I would tend to keep away from the extremes (particularly heat). Though, it does have the ability to go further into deep spring and early summer than does Hero EDP.

It’s probably at its best as an autumn and early spring sort of cologne.

It’s very versatile, in terms of its use case. Probably not the most formal cologne in the world, but it can absolutely fit in as a daily wear. Younger or older guys could wear this. Plus, Hero EDT is one that has a ton of mass appeal, and probably isn’t going to offend anyone.

Overall Impressions of Hero EDT

Overall, do I like Hero? I do. I think it’s one of the better entry level designer fragrances to come out in the past few years. It’s not completely amazing, but it’s extremely wearable and versatile, for those who want something simple and/or keep only a few fragrance options in their collection.

The EDT is better than the EDP. It does have some similarities in terms of style to the newer version of Dior Homme, that was released in 2020. The Dior is slightly better, but really not by much. Burberry did well with this one.

The opening act has become very appealing to me. I wore this one out, the other night, and really loved that first 60-90 minutes of intensity. Good balance, different from the army of ‘blue’ colognes out there, and a woody scent that doesn’t smell like a pine air freshener.

Hero EDT is for sure worth checking out. Some people will love this juice, but I can’t imagine too many people hating it. It does everything well enough, without hitting an elite level

Imagination by Louis Vuitton

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Imagination by Louis Vuitton is the last of the LV samples I bought a while back, which needs a full review posted for the site. It wasn’t the one that I was most looking forward to trying out, but it definitely became a favorite of mine to wear. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Imagination Smell Like?

Notes include: citron, orange, bergamot, cinnamon, black tea, guaiac wood, ambroxan, neroli, ginger

lv imagination review

My Full Review

Here’s how Louis Vuitton describes it: Imagination. The key to the audacity, success and drive of the creatives who make the wildest dreams a reality. An immaterial energy that is nurtured by travel and experiences that forge a new state of mind.

Citron, bergamot, and orange. The citron will come to be the strongest of the citrus notes, but early it is rather evenly split. Orange is at its peaks upon first spraying, but will take a back seat to the other two.

That orange and citron mix is really great.  A nice juiciness that will evolve as the cologne dries down. The citron will become more prominent, also.

Update: coming back to Imagination, I’ve been getting a heavier sense of the citron with some sprays earlier on, along with a sort of light smokiness (guaiac wood?). It’s interesting, sometimes it feels way more of a pure citrus and other times, more mixed.

Ambroxan is present at the beginning of this one, taking time to outlast other notes, but sort of lurking underneath it all.

Black tea with neroli. The neroli does give it some further spice and orange influence, but that will fade along with the main orange fruit note. It’s got a fresh spiciness from ginger and just a touch of cinnamon. I don’t pick up all that much.

The opening citrus blast will be more of a citrus floral. Fresh with a watery aroma, not a pure aquatic but gives you a light blue impression, after that greenish smell early.

A juiciness that will turn more into a light citrus tea. It’s a warm ambroxan, black tea with citron squeezed into the cup. The opening has a chilled scent, but it warms up without ever becoming too heavy.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage is pretty strong for about an hour or so. After that, it’s more in the moderate range. Though, I have to say, the projection is solid throughout and never disappoints me, with its strength.

The longevity is actually quite good. I can get as much as 9.5 hours on my skin. Though, it tends to hit the 8-9 hour mark more often. For a citrus based scent, that’s pretty darn good, especially since it’s not all that heavy.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summertime fragrance. One that will capture attention with how pleasant it is, while not being something that’s super sexy.

Update: Yes, people seem to really enjoy this one, when I wear it. Now that it’s spring and heading into the summer, it really stands out and hits its stride in this weather. It really hangs around your person well and is extremely pleasant to have on.

It is very versatile in that, it can be worn to work or casually or even up to the right formal even during the day. It does have much more of a daytime vibe, than a nightclub beast or something that is reserved for evening.

But, I do wear it out at night still. Not screaming for attention, while it still receives plenty of it.

Imagination is a Louis Vuitton scent that could become a signature daily wear for a slice of the year for some men.

Overall Impressions of Imagination

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Absolutely. It actually might be the best men’s cologne released by Louis Vuitton thus far (update: it is). It’s certainly among the best of the more unisex offerings, as well.

That’s with the tea and ambroxan notes, which have a tendency to get on my nerves. That’s probably my only real personal complaint here, is that those notes just get somewhat bothersome to me after a while.

It’s way less the case here and probably only something that applies to me individually.

Update: Honestly, it isn’t bothering me at all, the more that I wear Imagination. I don’t wear the same thing everyday anyway, so, I doubt that I really get irritated by any aspect of this fragrance.

Also, I have since this initial review purchased a fragrance ‘inspired by’ Imagination from the Dua Brand, called, #Imagine. Which, if you’re looking for a much cheaper alternative, is fantastic and really hits the mark.

imagination dupe

Outside of that, this scent is phenomenal. The opening is so great. Juicy, fresh, a bit spicy, and the black tea giving you a glimpse while not being fully ramped up yet.

The dry down is still great, but I truly love that first hour to hour and a half. It’s awesome.

The performance with Imagination is also great and isn’t a problem, at this price point. There’s no real weakness with this cologne. It’s safe to blind buy and almost anyone would appreciate it.

Imagination isn’t too complicated, but it is extremely well done.

Acqua di Gio Profondo by Giorgio Armani

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Acqua di Gio has been a best seller for about 25 years or so. It has made Armani a ton of money, so, they’re going to keep reusing the name and tweaking the formula with new flankers for as long as they can. In 2020, they introduced Profondo to the lineup. Is this entry in the dark blue bottle worth it? How does it smell? Does it last a long time? Is it better than the other AdG fragrances?

What does Acqua di Gio Profondo Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, bergamot, lavender, marine notes, rosemary, cypress, lentisk, patchouli, musk

Click here to try: GIORGIO ARMANI Acqua Di Gio Profondo for Men Eau De Parfum Spray 4.2 Ounces, blue

My Full Wear Review

Before getting into my personal review, let’s see how Armani describes it: Like taking a plunge into the deep blue sea, senses are awakened by green mandarin and bergamot while an ultramarine, nearly icy hue is conveyed by Acqua di Giò’s iconic marine notes. As the bubbles of oxygen rise to the top, the rosemary, lavender, cypress and lentisk absolute blend at its heart. Exuding a masculine character of depth and intensity, notes of woody patchouli and enveloping musk finally fuse with the saline accent of a mineral ambery accord at the base.

Upon initially spraying Profondo on my skin, I got a blue-green impression. Aquatic, but not as dark as AdG Profumo. With more woodiness and depth than the original Acqua di Gio. 

It kicks things off with the usual citrus notes being present, more of the bergamot versus the mandarin orange. Very marine without the incense of Profumo and less of the rosemary of the original. 

What is here, underneath the similar DNA is a sweetness and woody resin. This must be the lentisk note, as described on Wikipedia: “The plant is evergreen, from 1 to 5 m high, with a strong smell of resin, growing in dry and rocky areas in Mediterranean Europe.”

I will say, that as it dries down it becomes more of a true blue sort of aroma. I get that mineral note that is so prevalent in Profumo and also a smooth, almost creamy smell coming through. Less salty and more of a Light Blue aquatic type of marine accord. I guess, the impression of water, rather than a full on oceanic note.

Armani wanted this to have a deeper sea vibe and they accomplished it. The latter stages of the fragrance are extremely well blended. Woody with nuanced notes peaking in at different times during the wear.

There isn’t a tonka bean note listed, but there kind of seems like there is one lurking in here. I think that it’s just the way that the remaining lavender is interacting with the other ingredients, though.

I like this. Fresh and a deep blue finish, that does feel different enough from the other Acqua di Gio scents.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This isn’t a heavy sort of fragrance. It’s light, but not weak. Meaning, it hangs around but doesn’t have an enveloping thickness about it. I keep catching whiffs of it throughout the day, it’s just not a beast.

Longevity is good, but not insane for an EDP fragrance. 7-8 hours on my skin, is what I seem to get here. Nothing more, but also nothing less either. For a summertime wear, I’ll take it. 

Update: Every time that I’ve tried Profondo, it sticks to this 7-8 hour timeframe. No more, no less. At least it is consistent.

Seasonally, as I said, summer. More specifically, spring or summer, but this is really made for the warm to hot days. I think this might be the AdG cologne to go with, if you live in a super hot or humid climate and Profumo becomes too overbearing. 

Very attractive, sexy, and pleasant. Not a nightclub beast, but great for daytime and casual to semi-formal situations. You could wear this on a date and it would fit right in. It can be worn by guys of all ages, without issue. More refined and mature than Acqua di Gio, but retains enough of the original vibe. 

 

 

Overall Impressions of Acqua di Gio Profondo

Do I like this fragrance? Yes, a whole lot. I still put it behind Profumo as my favorite from this line, but this definitely has its place. Update: I still rate this one second, as of now. It’s pretty close to Profumo in terms of enjoyment.

It serves as a midway point between the original and Profumo, similar to each, while doing its own thing. The original seems pointless to me now, with its performance having taken such a hit.

Update: They followed this up with Profondo Lights and Acqua di Gio EDP. Profondo is better than either. Lights isn’t a very good flanker to this, in my opinion. I never wanted to wear it. EDP is nice enough, but I won’t be buying a new bottle, when I finish the rest of my current one.

If you have Profumo though, you don’t need this one. I just bought a bottle of Profumo, but would also consider getting some Profondo as well. Update: I never did grab a full bottle. But for folks without a fragrance website, it’s fairly redundant. I’d test both and just pick the one you prefer.

I do like the dry down period with Profondo. That’s where it’s at its most different from the others. Really smooth, with depth, a blue-ish aroma, and a woody sweetness coming in. The opening is also good, just doesn’t capture my attention in the same way.

Le Male Airlines by JPG

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Airlines is a limited edition Le Male flanker released by Gaultier back in 2020. I had never tried it, but came across a bottle, while ordering other fragrances and decided to try it out. I believe it is a variant of Le Male Aviator, slightly different, but I’ve never tried that either.

JPG’s Le Male scents are somewhat hit and miss, but I am generally positive on the lineup. How does Airlines smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Le Male Airlines Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, cardamom, mint, artemisia, lavender, caraway, cinnamon, bergamot, and more

My Full Wear Review

So, Airlines really separates itself from others in the Le Male series, by being heavily weighted with the cardamom note. Early on in the wear especially, Airlines is a cardamom bomb. But, you’ll still definitely know this cologne is from Gaultier, as it strikes a lot of the same Le Male chords.

Along with that, there is a very light citrus, mint, artemisia, and cinnamon. So, there will be an herbal and greenish influence in this one, not that it is overwhelming just present. I think there is a touch of violet leaf in the mix too. Fresh and a warmer spice to this cologne in the opening act.

The initial complete dominance of the cardamom will pull back some, giving the chance for the mint and vanilla notes to take on a larger role. The cardamom and artemisia have a slightly bitter edge to their smells, with the latter fading a lot after 30 minutes or so.

The next phase has some more balance to it, with the emergence of the lavender note. Things feel softer, cooler, and there’s a powdery aroma coming from underneath. At this point, it’s a: cardamom, lavender, vanilla, and mint blend mainly.

That’s pretty much how it’s going to finish as well. The only really differences being, that the ‘greenish’ scent has pretty much gone, and there is an emergence of a woody accord. Yet, the cardamom, lavender, and vanilla are going to be what Le Male Airlines is about for the rest of the way.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here starts off with a bang, almost close to my bottle of Ultra Male. It can project very well and leaves a nice trail in your wake.

However, that will fall apart quickly and it’s slightly above average for the rest of the duration.

The performance is pretty good, but doesn’t dare approach anything great. I can get about 6.5-7 hours of wear on skin. Falling short of Ultra Male, but in line with most of the other editions in this series. It’s fine, not too much to complain about.

Seasonally, this is a very versatile fragrance. Outside of the height of summer, this will be fine. I’ve worn it on milder and very warm spring days, and Airlines performed well and didn’t start to smell weird.

Though, it’s more of an autumn through early spring wear, at its best.

It can also serve as a daily wear or something to use for the nightlife. It’s got that great spiciness and freshness and generally is attractive. It does have more of a younger man’s vibe to it, but isn’t completely immature. Just not going to be a formal type of cologne.

Overall Impressions of Airlines

Overall, do I like Le Male Airlines? I do. I think it’s one of the better releases out of the Le Male flankers (better than In the Navy, which I also recently tried). It’s not great, but overall pretty enjoyable and a cologne that I will wear from time to time.

This is really heavy with the cardamom, which I already own a few fragrances like that, so it’s not filling much of a need. I do like the varying spices. Not just warmth, but also a cold mint, and other assorted green freshness.

The end result hangs pleasantly in the air, with a more balanced approach with vanilla and lavender notes. It’s nothing too complicated, but a solid scent on the whole.

The performance is basically mid-range. It has that bold start and quiets down quickly. Even with that, it stays around for a while. As long as you’re not overpaying for a bottle, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem.

This was a limited edition, and while bottles are still floating around, you’re going to have to make a move soon to avoid paying outlandish prices. Mine was about $45, which seems about right for this cologne.

Light Blue Pour Homme Living Stromboli by D&G

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Light Blue Pour Homme has spawned off about a dozen flanker fragrances since its release. One of the earliest ones was 2012’s Living Stromboli. I had never tried this scent out, but as I’ve been working my way through this D&G series, I sought it out. I was able to find a bottle for $50 to test out. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is Living Stromboli worth a try?

What does Light Blue Living Stromboli Smell Like?

Notes include: pink pepper, citrus, water notes, geranium, vetiver, amber, patchouli

My Full Review

Living Stromboli opens up with it’s pink pepper note out, in full effect. Yes, it’s a warmer and spicier type of aquatic fragrance, especially early on. It is interesting, however, how vetiver and patchouli are the two notes that I also get a lot of in this beginning.

The patchouli isn’t nearly as heavy, just giving this a light earthiness, sitting underneath the calone aquatic notes. Vetiver and the pink pepper are pretty dominant on my skin giving this a drier freshness, with some almost smoky elements.

The citrus here, isn’t out in front, as it is in many of the other Light Blue flankers. It’s there, just in a supporting role, seemingly diluted in the watery aspects of this cologne.

Further along, Stromboli moves into its more aquatic phase. The patchouli and vetiver really back off in this part. Geranium and amber emerge to join that pink pepper note, which is present throughout.

This isn’t oceanic and salty, as something like Swimming Lipari is. No, more of a thinner ‘blue-ish’ aquatic smell. Clean and synthetic, just not a marine-like sea water.

The final dry down is a mix of the water and amber. It’s much less spicy on the skin, more of an aromatic fresh feeling. Still a sense of dryness from those note, just much less intense.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it’s a lighter moderate scent. About 45-60 minutes of wear, in which it will project well, and leave a scent trail in one’s wake.

After that, it’s a lighter cologne that’ll project about 2-4 feet from the skin. It’s about what I expect with these Light Blue flankers. Even if, this one is constructed differently, the EDT still have about the same strength.

On my skin, Living Stromboli will stick around for about 6.5, maybe 7 hours in total. Again, in line with the others from Dolce & Gabbana.

Seasonally, we’re going late spring and summer for this one. Obviously, as a refreshing aquatic, this is when it’s going to be at it’s best and most useful. Outside in the warmth, Living Stromboli has a lively and blue ozonic aroma that is nice to catch a whiff of.

Mostly going to be a casual one to wear around during this season. Stromboli is a daytime wear, that could venture out into the evening, even if it’s not a nightlife beast in its main use case.

Overall Impressions of Living Stromboli

Overall, do I like Living Stromboli? It’s fine. It’s a fairly simple spicy fresh aquatic fragrance. Something pretty different from the rest of the entries in the Light Blue Pour Homme lineup.

The pink pepper note works fairly well, but I’m not too enthralled by it leading the way. I do like this sort of calone-laced aquatic, but I probably would’ve preferred a citrus-led formula with the spices playing support, instead of what it actually is.

Still, the dry down is pretty appealing, when the spices are somewhat muted. An ambery aquatic aroma that hangs lightly in the air. Somewhere in the middle of the pack, as far as Light Blue Pour Homme editions go.

It’s not too amazing, but may be worth a try for guys who this formula sounds interesting to. There aren’t a ton of bottles left floating around. Though, the one’s that are, have been priced affordably. Better options exist, but this isn’t a massive disappointment for the $50 I paid.