Cologne Reviews

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.

Le Male In The Navy by JPG

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In the Navy is one of the multitude of Le Male flankers to have been put out by JPG, over the years. It came out back in 2018 and I had come in contact with it back then. But, once I saw it again, I scooped up some samples in order to give it a proper review. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is In the Navy worth a try?

What does Le Male in the Navy Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, peppermint, oceanic accord, ambergris

Click here to try: Le Male in the Navy

My Full Review

Here’s how JPG describe it: An aquatic fougere. A splash of icy peppermint, invigorated by the salty freshness of an oceanic accord and contrasted with a vanilla note.

The opening is cold and fresh with that peppermint note leading the way. Right from the jump, you will notice the light and water accord running through the middle of In the Navy.

Actually, pretty nice. With the vanilla, mint, and ambergris notes; it can become easy to compare this to Eros. Sure, there’s some overlap, but they’re not the same fragrance by any means. Especially, sans citrus.

Once some of that peppermint has worn off, this becomes more about that vanilla and ambergris. Saltier and warm, with less of the initial oceanic freshness that defines the opening act.

Le Male In the Navy, isn’t a complicated scent. It’s pretty much a watery blend of vanilla and amber for the rest of the way. Basically, take three of the notes from the original and add an aquatic accord.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, I can say that this is at best, middle of the road. Maybe you’ll get a scent trail going with heavy sprays. But, past that first hour and this one is a light and intimate fragrance.

The longevity doesn’t help matters. On my skin, I get about 4.5 hours of wear. Even in that lighter state, it just doesn’t want to stick around.

Some of these Le Male flankers are pretty weak. In the Navy is one of the worst, in my experience.

That being said, it is a versatile fragrance. It’s fresh, non-offensive, and can work well from springtime through autumn in most places. I’d skip in winter, but this is at its best when it gets warm out.

Not really going to be a sexy nightlife beast. But, a daytime casual or semi-formal wear, when you want something light to put on in the heat. Not that it’s going to keep up the fight for long, but it’s a serviceable smell for that climate.

Overall Impressions of In the Navy

Overall, do I like In the Navy? Not particularly. I did think that this was one that I’d be more into, but this Le Male falls flat, and performs poorly. It sounded a lot better than it actually is.

The opening is the best part. Even then, the peppermint and oceanic accord aren’t all that amazing together. It’s a nice aroma, just nothing that really grabs my attention.

After that, In the Navy is a simplistic and linear experience, that smells okay enough. That alone would disqualify it from being a full bottle purchase for me. Throw in the fact that it only sticks around for a bit more than four hours and it’s a pass.

Most bottles that I’m seeing still floating around, aren’t heavily discounted. Seems like the stock that’s left is priced close to retail. No real value with In the Navy.

Light Blue Pour Homme Summer Vibes by D&G

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Summer Vibes is the 2023 issuance under the Light Blue banner. I haven’t gotten access to the women’s Summer Vibes yet, but I did manage to buy a few samples of the pour homme off of eBay to test out. It’s good timing, as I’ve been making my way through reviewing all of the old Light Blue flankers lately. How does this one smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Light Blue Pour Homme Summer Vibes Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, cypress, amberwood

Click here to try: Light Blue Summer Vibes

My Full Review

Here’s how D&G describes it: The Italian holiday dream. The energy of summer by the sea. This fragrance captures the fresh energy of Italian holidays through an invigorating blend of Mediterranean citrus and woody notes.

Since this is one of the dozen or so Light Blue Pour Homme releases, I suppose that I’ll begin by comparing to other fragrances in the series.

It isn’t like the last two Forever or Italian Love, so, don’t expect the hyper grapefruit.

I’ll say that it is closest to Discover Vulcano and Swimming in Lipari, in terms of smell, while coming across as being fairly different. Both of those fragrances have a much more prominent use of citrus and are fairly sour in their openings versus Summer Vibes.

Luckily, I actually do have decants of both of those in my possession at the moment, to compare Vibes to.

Vulcano is the only other Light Blue fragrance with the cypress note. Dolce & Gabbana brings it back for this 2023 edition. You also get the same lemon note. While Vulcano was very heavily laced with cypress and tried to create a wearable volcano-like aroma, this is much more tolerable and sweeter.

The citrus note in Summer Vibes is led by the lemon note. There may be a touch of grapefruit for good measure, but it leans much more towards that lemon. Checking its ingredients versus Eau Intense, Summer Vibes has the same ‘citrus’ chemical ingredients. So, probably a yes to grapefruit.

That is the third comparison scent, Eau Intense. Mostly, it’s in the amberwood note, which is also found in Swimming in Lipari. I’d say Summer Vibes is closer to Lipari than Eau Intense. Sweeter than either.

The citrus accord here is subdued from the start. Summer Vibes doesn’t give you a super juicy or tart opening at all. It’s a bit watery, no saltiness or sea breeze, just a light aquatic feeling.

The cypress is going to be much less green than what I got from Vulcano. Summer Vibes still has a freshness, maybe a little spice from some unlisted note. But, it is much more focused on the wood of the cypress tree.

As we dry down further, the citrus is very faint. It’s a mix of the cypress and amberwood with some muskiness. Not really a complicated fragrance at all. In some ways, it’s got a style similar to a streamlined Costa Azzura EDP and the old Higher by Dior.

It wouldn’t shock me if there was cedar or vetiver in the notes pyramid, but D&G only gave us three notes. It smells like there’s something else in there other than amberwood and cypress.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is on the lighter end of moderate. This isn’t a heavy bomb, especially since that lemon note doesn’t come out with an initial punch. I’d say it’ll leave a nice scent trail for maybe the first hour.

Thereafter, expect it to project in the 2-5 foot range from the skin. Declining towards the lower end of that range by the second hour or so.

On my skin, it lasts for 6.5-7 hours. About what I get from other Light Blue fragrances in the series. Aside from, Eau Intense. Summer Vibes doesn’t massively project itself, but it does stick around for a solid amount of time.

Seasonally, late spring and summer, obviously. It is versatile within that time frame, particularly during the daytime.

It fits for any age of man. More put together and mature than some of the others in the series. This could go casually or for work or some semi-formal event in  the summer.

I actually do enjoy the way it hangs on the light breeze outside. It was warm outside today and Summer Vibes had a great freshness while I was walking around.

Overall Impressions of Summer Vibes

Overall, do I like this release? It’s pretty good, but not great. It’s better than Vulcano and Lipari, for sure, just doesn’t blow me away.

The scent is a pleasant one that should work well in the summer. If you don’t want a heavy citrus scent or the opposite with a heavy greenish one, this can fit the bill, since it is balanced woody aromatic.

It is still very much in the Light Blue tradition, bringing back familiar notes, and changing up the weighting of them.

The performance is middle of the road. Not a projection beast, but the longevity is decent enough for one of these summer colognes.

At least the bottle looks cool, as a bonus. Summer Vibes is worth trying out, but not necessarily something that you have to rush out and buy. I’d say find a tester in stores, give it a spray to see if it works for you, assuming you’re in the market for a warm weather scent.

Light Blue Pour Homme Discover Vulcano by D&G

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Discover Vulcano was the 2014 release in the Light Blue Pour Homme series. It’s one of the fragrances that really didn’t get too much attention upon release and still doesn’t to this day. I had the opportunity to grab a small decant of it to review for the site. So, here I am to give my thoughts on this one and whether or not it’s an underrated gem.

What does Light Blue Discover Vulcano Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, cypress, ginger, lavender, cedar, vetiver

Try here: Discover Vulcano

My Full Review

Discover Vulcano opens up with a huge blast of citrus, along with, cypress and ginger. It’s actually quite sour, ashy/smoky, with a certain saltiness to it. This is sort of like the Light Blue version of AdG Profumo (in terms of style), just way less subtle in the opening (and not nearly as good).

Once that initial lemon blast tones down, this one is much more wearable, but still the most unique smelling of the line. Whether or not that’s a good thing, is probably up to your personal tastes.

Lavender is what I think comes in for a while to help take some of that sourness away. It’s not too prolific of a note here, just a stabilizing force. The cypress is absolutely massive, on my skin, and this scent goes full on dry and fresh woods.

If we’re trying to capture the scent of a volcanic island, I think it works as well as one could expect, without creating something noxious. I like the spicy hints of ginger and can deal with the cypress bomb, once it’s not completely surrounded by a sour lemon.

Vulcano actually is a pretty simple scent. The only real changes towards the end, is the inclusion of more cedar and vetiver butting in on the space of the cypress. Those three notes covered in a light spray of lemon juice.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is about the same as some of the other flankers, but towards the weaker end of the series’ spectrum. Like, Italian Zest, Vulcano opens up very strong with its citrus before retreating into something that sticks to 2-3 feet from the skin.

Though, this is a tad better with its projection than Zest.

Again, this is another Light Blue that will go for about 6 hours. Probably 5-6 hour range, for most people. It’s not very strong, nor is it going to be an all-day wear.

Seasonally, this is a summertime wear. Daytime for casual wear or those in need of refreshing. I suppose it could be worn to work, also, for some people.

This is probably the lease mainstream appealing from the series. Not one that is probably going to appeal to most younger guys or draw a bunch of complements. If you’re one who loves woods or an older man, this might work for you…but far from a guaranteed winner.

Overall Impressions of Discover Vulcano

Overall, do I like Light Blue Discover Vulcano? Not really. I’d have to say it’s my least favorite of the Light Blue line. It’s not my style, even if it has a more unique smell than the others in the series, it’s just not all that good.

Some might dig this. If you want a cheaper summer use of cypress and other woods. But, there are better examples out there than Discover Vulcano. From performance to the scent itself, it’s all pretty mediocre.

Bottles of it don’t seem to be too hard to find, even today, after its limited run back in 2014. Not too many people are checking for this cologne. I don’t recommend it, unless you’re just very intrigued for whatever reason, or are someone like me who needs to complete the entire Light Blue series.