Cologne Reviews

K EDP by Dolce & Gabbana

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K (King) EDP by Dolce & Gabbana was released in 2020 and I recently got a sample sprayer of this fragrance to try out. This was a complete blind buy for me. Which is good, because I could come at it without any preconceived notions on what it was. How does it smell? How does K perform? Is it worth a try?

What does K Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: pimento, fig, juniper, blood orange, lemon, cardamom, lavender, sage, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana K for Men Eau de Parfum Spray, 5 Ounce/150ml

My Full Wear Review

Before we get to my thoughts, let’s see how D&G describes this fragrance: K by Dolce & Gabbana eau de parfum reveals a fresh and spicy cardamom note, followed by a stronger woody base more sensual than ever with a fig milk accord, the fragrance is the essence of masculine seduction.

I haven’t tried the EDT version prior to getting a sample of the eau de parfum, so I really had no expectations coming into trying this one. I didn’t even know whether this would be a sweet fragrance, aquatic, or whatever.

Initially, there’s a lot going on here. Holy pimento! Not a note that you encounter a lot, but it is definitely present in the opening act of K. Fig and cardamom are also major players here but I really get pimento at first.

Underneath all of that, there is some citrus. I guess it’s mainly the blood orange, but it isn’t really that noticeable to my nose. After a few minutes, K is more of a hodgepodge of different spicier aromas: pimento, cardamom, sage, and some earthiness from the patchouli note.

It can be somewhat off-putting but I think that the fig note holds things together. The middle act is a bit messy to me, lots going on. The opening while loaded with that pimento, actually seemed to have a clear direction.

As it dries down, K EDP is woodier with some smokiness and it has a level of bitterness to it. This is a densely packed cologne  and one that kind of shocked me. Not a bad thing, as there are facets here that I do quite like.

The final dry down for me is fig, cedar, and vetiver. Vetiver really comes through at the end and makes this feel more traditional. I am surprised that the fig note, made it this deep into the wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

On me, this doesn’t come across as a powerhouse. I’d say that it has above average sillage, just not a complete monster. I sprayed it on a shirt across the room, as well, and can’t pick up anything from 10 feet or so away. Not weak, just not insane.

On skin, it’s noticeable throughout. Towards the 4-5 hour mark, King will really start to sit close to the skin. It doesn’t fade away, though, and I do catch whiffs of it when I’m going about my day.

It also seems to stick around for 7-8.5 hours, give or take. Nothing to sneer at and I certainly wasn’t upset with its performance.

You could wear this casually to semi-formally to out on the town for the evening. Not really a summertime scent, but summer evenings would be fine. Probably at its best in more moderate temperatures, so, spring or autumn.

I could see this being a solid option to wear out to bars and clubs. Not the super sweet attention grabber like many others, but something sort of well put together without being overly formal.

It can be worn be younger men or older guys. It has a nice balance that should appeal to a wide age range. Having said that, it will be more polarizing than many other popular men’s fragrances. Not everyone is going to dig this, as those spices, may not be what you’re looking for.

Overall Impressions of K EDP

Do I like this fragrance? I sort of do. I’m not completely into every aspect of it, but I do find it intriguing. Ultimately, I don’t think that this particular Dolce cologne fits with my style. However, some guys are going to absolutely love this stuff.

It is something a bit different from the norm. Again, I haven’t tried the EDT as of yet, so I can’t compare the two. This starts out with plenty of depth and uniqueness, but becomes much more of a typical woody fragrance.

That pimento and cardamom combination is a great curve ball. Not insanely great, but I do enjoy that D&G took things in a different direction. Plus, I do like a good fig note. The one in K EDP really holds things together, as the various spices begin to compete for attention.

I think it’ll mostly appeal to guys in their 20s and early 30s, even if the scent itself has a much broader use case than that. The presentation and marketing feels geared towards that age group.

Nice and it doesn’t have any particular weaknesses. You might want to try before you commit to a full buy, though.

Uomo Intense by Valentino

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In this review, I am going to take a closer look at the flanker release to Valentino’s Uomo, called, Uomo Intense. I have give it a few wears now and want to share my thoughts and experiences with it. I will cover what’s in it, how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worthwhile to try out.

What does Valentino Uomo Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: sage, iris, vanilla, leather, tonka bean, mandarin

Click here to try: Valentino Uomo Intense by Valentino EDP for Men, 3.4 Fl Oz

My Full Review

The opening of Uomo Intense is like a more leather heavy version of Dior Homme. It is darker, the iris isn’t as fresh as in that Dior, and there isn’t the sweet cacao note in there.

It is interesting, the Valentino Uomo colognes are so similar to the Dior Homme line, but Uomo Intense didn’t manage to retain the amazing start of the original or go with a Dior Intense opening.

So, the opening 10 minutes or so, it strikes me as a worse version of Dior Homme. However, it does begin to shift into its own thing, thereafter. There is plenty of leather but the vanilla not and a bit of mandarin orange peak through, and give it a different take.

During this stage, Uomo Intense, is really dominated by leather and vanilla. The iris is still there, but it isn’t a strong, as it later becomes.

As it dries down further, the iris emerges fully, and the powdery element comes in. It’s not a super baby powder smell or anything, but that natural iris aroma. With that is a creamy sweet vanilla/tonka bean combo, as the secondary layer.

Then, the final layer is that dark leather note, with sage. Kind of weird how I didn’t even get a bit of sage with my nose, until way later into this wear. This later part of the wear, is much more like Dior Intense than the original Dior Homme. It’s like Valentino made some hybrid of those two colognes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s really not that strong. The sillage isn’t weak in my mind, but it doesn’t hit the same level, as either of the Dior scents. It might be right around the original Uomo’s strength. Possibly, a bit greater reach off of the skin, just not by much.

Longevity is about 6-8 hours, depending on the day. Not terribly amazing, but it doesn’t quit on you, too early. Again, the Dior fragrances just perform better. Still, I find it to be perfectly usable and nothing really to complain about.

Seasonally, it works in anything other than hot and humid weather. Mostly, I like it as an autumn and winter wear, Uomo Intense is very nice in the cold air. It’s a more mature fragrance, can be worn to the office or for a night out, but doesn’t have too much of a casual vibe.

It’d probably be best worn by men in their mid-20s or up. Smells very nice, fresh, and attractive but not really a super ‘sexy’ cologne. Though, I’ve worn it out at night and it held up well.

Overall Impressions of Uomo Intense

Overall, do I like Uomo Intense. I really do enjoy it. The vanilla and leather are a really great combination within this fragrance. This is a really smooth and well put together fragrance.

On the other hand, I like the original Uomo, better. The opening of that is just amazing to me. I also wear Dior Homme, so I have no place for something, which smells like a slightly different mix of that and Dior Intense.

Plus, the opening of Dior Intense is the part that I like over Dior Homme the most, and it doesn’t exist in Uomo Intense. It is a great fragrance, it’s just that I’d put it fourth out of those colognes, personally.

As such, there’s really no need for me to own it, since it doesn’t do anything special. Very good cologne, without a spot of its own.

The dry down is probably my favorite part, when it really begins to show off the iris note. For some, this might be preferable to at least one or the other fragrances, I mentioned. Especially now, that you can’t find bottles of the old Dior Homme easily. I’d still go with Uomo EDT or Dior Intense, but check this out too, before it completely disappears from market.

Alien Man by Mugler

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Alien Man was released in 2018, named after the long-running and popular ladies’ Alien line of perfumes. It’s kind of surprising that they waited literal decades after the women’s fragrances had been released to put out a men’s counterpart, but whatever. I recently grabbed a sample of the stuff, to put it through its paces, and see if I liked it. 

What does Alien Man Smell Like?

Notes include: anise, dill, leather, mint, lavender, pepper, thyme, lemon, vanilla, amber, and more

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Alien Man, 3.4 Oz, Multi color

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Mugler describes this one: Alien Man EDT, a vibration of aromatic freshness, mysterious woody and sensual leather notes.

So, the Alien name becomes quite clear from the jump, because this one does smell pretty different. I think that it dries down fairly conventional, but it does start out with a weird sort of blend, that I’m not sure how to feel about.

First, there is a blend of smoky woods and the ever-present leather. However, along with that is a dill note and also thyme. Oh, also a cooling mint and fresh anise. Yes, indeed the dill does give it a slight pickle juice aroma. It’s not too noticeable on my skin, but it is there. Kinda strange.

Thyme and dill aren’t included in too many fragrances out there, even the women’s Alien went with being a jasmine bomb, and not venturing into odd notes. 

Alien Man is at least interesting. You get cool herbal freshness, sweetness (dare I say powdery), smokiness, and the usual leather and woods. Plenty of depth and the notes don’t always stand out individually.

I won’t say that it smells like Drakkar Noir or Passion by Elizabeth Taylor, but at times it definitely has that same kind of style. That classic style sitting underneath a different sort of opening act.

The middle will be a transition, loss of the dill and thyme influence, more of the herbal cool freshness. That will lead the way to the woods and leather’s growing influence.

The final dry down to my nose, is a fresh blend of woods (with surprisingly less smoke than it had before), with leather, herbal notes, and an amber/vanilla thickness. It’s deep and dark with its presentation.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is somewhat strong, though, I’d say that it’s in the upper range of moderate. It does have a thick/heavy kind of aroma and can be over-sprayed. Though, with a few sprays, it’s very tolerable. 

That opening can come off as kind of aggressive. I don’t think that it is massive or a slap you across the room sort of cologne. However, with the early note structure it does ‘feel’ stronger than it actually is.

The longevity is excellent. On my skin, this stuff can go 9-10.5 hours while holding on to much of its power. Mugler definitely comes out with some unique fragrances, but they are usually always awesome performers.

Seasonally, I’d stick to autumn and winter with this one. It’d be a mess in the heat of summer. Especially, that start. It really needs the crisp and cold air to be fully appreciated.

To me, this has a classic sort of smell, and can totally be worn at the office. That initial period of time, provides the futuristic aroma, before falling back into a leathery aromatic/barbershop scent. It fits well for all age ranges, really.

Alien Man is an anytime kind of fragrance, during those cooler months. Maybe go with something else for romantic or nightlife, but it can sort of fit in anywhere.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Alien Man

Overall do I like this fragrance? Not too much, but I don’t hate it either. I gave it several tries and I can appreciate aspects of it, just not the entire thing.

The opening is pretty strange to smell on my skin. Then, the smoky woods come in, with leather, and some sweet vanilla. When that happens, it feels a lot more familiar, while still maintaining some level of uniqueness.

It’s just an okay smell to me, overall. The dry down is basically a modern take on an old-school style that’s been done a thousand times. It’s fine, I like it enough to wear on occasion, but not for a full bottle. 

The performance and the uniqueness are all pretty top notch. That’s to be expected with pretty much all Mugler fragrances. They provide you at least something different and are bold with how they come across.

As such, if you dig the scent itself, it does present a very nice buying opportunity. I don’t fall into that camp, personally, but plenty of you very well may. 

Starwalker by Mont Blanc

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Having already done a few other Mont Blanc cologne reviews (see: Individuel) and a best of list from the brand, I thought that it was time to put up a review of Starwalker.  The name is what initially had me wanting to give this a try, as I found it to be a rather unique and interesting moniker. Turns out, it is named after one of the pens which the company also produces.

Nonetheless, this was still a review that I was looking forward to doing and seeing how Starwalker stacks up versus the rest of the Mont Blanc line. Please continue below for my full impressions on how it smells, its performance, and if it is a good bet to buy.

What does Starwalker Smell Like?

starwalker

Notes include: amber, mandarin, musk, bamboo, bergamot, sandalwood, ginger, and more.

Click here to try Starwalker: Mont Blanc Starwalker Edt Spray 1.7 Oz By Mont Blanc [Misc.]

My Full Review

Starwalker isn’t one of the most well known fragrances out there. In fact, it isn’t even the most popular cologne for men by Mont Blanc (see: Legend). However, this under the radar scent is rather unique and that is one of the reasons that I wanted to give this one a closer look.

The opening of Starwalker is mostly dominated by the citrus notes, but, it isn’t a bold and overwhelming citrus like some other colognes. This one is more subdued and surrounded by woodsy and floral aromas.

Enough juiciness, but more of a fresh and somewhat sweet aroma coming through.

The wood in this case, is bamboo, which is what I think gives Starwalker its unique sort of vibe; as bamboo isn’t a frequent ingredient found in most colognes. The orange and bergamot, aren’t really allowed to become overly sharp, as the wood keeps it in check.

There is a very slight spice with nutmeg and ginger, but that’s more of a temporary experience, even if it were bolder in how each note presents.

As it dries down, this cologne smells very smooth and refined. In many citrus fragrances, you’d expect it to really come to the forefront. Instead, what you’re left with is something that is very light, clean, and beautiful.

Sandalwood, bamboo, and a muskiness floating in the background alongside the fading citrus in these latter stages. Even the sandalwood, doesn’t last for that long it seems. Musky bamboo with cedar and citrus highlights, in the end.

Quite freshly clean and low key.

It does seem to have some similarities with other citrus/woodsy fragrances out there, mainly, Versace Man Eau Fraiche. I do enjoy the Versace cologne more than Starwalker but this fragrance is really nice as well.

However, I don’t think that it smells exactly like that cologne. After all, the lemon and star fruit in Eau Fraiche, are very strong and dominate the scent. It has a cedar note, but the wood in that fragrance, aren’t nearly to the same extent as it is in Starwalker.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Starwalker is light and non-intrusive, you’ll smell it but you won’t be enveloped in its aroma. It starts off decently strong, but quickly settles into having a 3-4 foot radius, around the wearer.

It is pretty steady, for the entirety of the wear, at least until the 4th or 5th hour.

The longevity is pretty moderate in my opinion and it’s usually good for about 4-5 hours and sometimes longer. It’s definitely not a top notch performer, in that regard. Many Mont Blanc scents, seem to have this longevity issue. Many of them are decent, but few are truly outstanding.

Starwalker isn’t one of them. But, if you can get past needing to have an all-day wear, this could be a scent that you enjoy.

It’s really a spring/summer type of fragrance, the light citrus aspect of it, draws it into that category. I like it as a versatile daily wear, during these months.

Starwalker can be worn to work, casually, or for semi-formal events. It’s a well put together scent, but not completely stuffy or anything like that. It’s attractive, rather than being super sexy and begging for attention.

Overall Impression of Starwalker

Overall, is Starwalker worth a purchase? I’d say yes, if you’re looking for something light, casual, and relatively inexpensive, then this one could be right up your alley. It’s by no means the greatest cologne on the market but it’s very good for what it is.

I like the bamboo and citrus mix. Later, the woody notes of sandalwood and cedar, give it a nice finish. There is also a great addition of ginger, in there as well, even if it is ephemeral.

The performance isn’t all that great, so, I’d say definitely pick up a discounted bottle if you can. I wouldn’t go full price for this. It’s actually not a very complex fragrance, just nice and simple with how it develops.

The style itself is pretty common, but Starwalker is a unique take on this sort of simple citrus and woods cologne. The smell is among my favorites from Montblanc, if the performance was beefed up, this would’ve been borderline great.

Tag-Him by Armaf

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Tag-Him is one of the most popular releases from Armaf and one of its multitude of ‘blue’ colognes for men. It gets attention for its similarities to Bleu de Chanel, but how does this fragrance actually smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Tag-Him Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, pink pepper, bergamot, nutmeg, mint, ginger, vetiver, sandalwood, patchouli

Click here to try: Tag-Him by Armaf

My Full Review

The opening here is a citrus and freshness explosion. Obviously, lots of similarities to Bleu de Chanel EDT, but not a one to one rendition. This is actually when it seems the least like it. I’m not a massive fan of how Tag-Him starts off.

Pink pepper and ginger are more pronounced in Tag-Him versus a Chanel scent that can have a minty opening. Also, the citrus notes here, aren’t as juicy and penetrating as I get with Bleu.

The freshness here has a soapy and somewhat less distinct note pyramid in comparison too. At some point, the pink pepper, ginger, mint all just seem to run together and the citrus just doesn’t stand out.

Also, a lack of smokiness is noticeable with Tag-Him versus the incense note that runs through its Chanel competitor.

The opening 30 minutes has a lavender note, adding to that cleanliness, and is really responsible for that somewhat soapy aroma. Along with the vetiver, which will be a bigger factor as that lavender fades.

On my skin, the pink pepper takes a dramatic step back at around 30-45 minutes in. Ginger to a greater degree takes up that space, along with mint, and the aforementioned vetiver.

Tag-Him isn’t all that complicated. Once past the first hour, you pretty much get into the final dry down. Sure, it’ll be woodier in the actual last stages, but a lot of this is already developed by this point.

Cedar, sandalwood, and vetiver. With some ginger and citrus notes. The citrus and spice will be more prominent earlier and the woody notes, come through more later. That’s essentially all that is left at the end.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Tag doesn’t strike me as being a weak fragrance. I can easily smell it floating off of the skin for pretty much the entire duration of the wear. If I spray it on a shirt, I can pick it up from about 7 feet away, at it’s peak. A 3-5 foot distance, after the initial burst subsides somewhat.

All in all, it’s above average and certainly provides your money’s worth in terms of sillage.

The longevity, on the other hand, is simply okay. I get about 6 hours total. With it’s power, I was expecting to probably hit the 8 hour mark, but it really starts to fade quickly in that fifth hour.

Again, it’s not terrible, by any means. However, the performance doesn’t really go above and beyond what you’d expect at this price point.

Seasonally, it’s more of an all-climate sort of fragrance. I would still skip it, if it is extremely hot or cold outside, as I don’t think it’d hold up too well. Beyond that, it should be fine.

Since I don’t think it has the same quality or refinement as Bleu de Chanel, I’d go a lot easier on Tag-Him, as an office wear or more formal sort of wear. If you want that, just buy the Chanel.

Casually or as a cheaper alternative for younger guys, this can work pretty well. It does have a synthetic type of vibe at times, can be sharper, etc. Though, you can get plenty of wear from this Armaf, just not to the same extent as Bleu.

Overall Impressions of Tag-HIm

Overall, do I like this Armaf scent? Sure, I don’t think that it is as good as Bleu EDT. The quality isn’t the same and the smell is somewhat different structurally. But, for the price, I don’t think that it is all that bad of a substitute.

To me, the biggest weakness is the opening. It’s still similar, but I don’ think that Tag-Him is  that great in this phase. Once the spices shift around some and the woodsy notes come in, this is a nicer fragrance.

That opening can be too sharp and unbalanced. It’s easier to wear and enjoy, as you move further along.

The performance is slightly above average, on the whole, but it is also not spectacular. I’m currently seeing the price at around $30 per bottle, so, it’s tough to complain too much about that aspect.

If you want Bleu de Chanel, buy that. If you can’t afford the Chanel, Tag-Him can be a useful substitute for some guys. It certainly has its limitations, but overall, I’m positive about this cologne.