Cologne Reviews

Le Beau Le Parfum by JPG

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Le Beau Le Parfum is a new release for 2022 from Jean Paul Gaultier. I bought a sample of it in a batch with others a while back, in order to give it a test and full review for the site. How does this one smell? Is it long last? When should it be worn? Is it actually worth trying?

My Verdict

Le Beau Le Parfum is a sweet, tropical, and creamy fragrance that opens with a fun burst of pineapple, coconut, and ginger before becoming much drier and woodier.

I really enjoy the opening, though the later sandalwood, tonka, and coconut-heavy dry down isn’t quite as interesting to me.

Performance is a definite strength, with around 9 hours of longevity and solid projection that starts strong before settling down. It has a youthful, playful feel that works especially well for casual wear and nights out.

Overall, it’s a solid and somewhat distinctive JPG release that’s absolutely worth trying if the tropical-meets-woody profile sounds appealing

Le Beau Le Parfum Overview

Notes include: ginger, pineapple, sandalwood, ambergris, iris, cypress, coconut, tonka bean, woods

le beau parfum review

🍹 Le Beau Le Parfum by Jean Paul Gaultier — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Sweet Tropical Woody
Key Notes Pineapple, Coconut, Ginger, Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, Ambergris, Cypress, Woods, Iris
Season Spring, Summer, Fall, Mild Winter Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Night Out, Dates, Social Events
Longevity Around 9 hours, with some wearings reaching about 10 hours
Sillage Strong early projection, settling into above-average sillage
Rating ★★★★☆ 8.0 / 10
Quick Verdict A sweet, tropical JPG fragrance that starts with juicy pineapple, coconut, and ginger before drying into creamy tonka, sandalwood, and woods. Youthful, playful, and long-lasting with solid projection. The opening is the highlight, while the drier woody finish may be more divisive. A solid choice for casual wear and nights out.

My Full Review

Here’s how JPG describes it: It’s impossible to resist temptation in the Gaultier garden, with Le Beau Le Parfum and his intense Eau de Parfum. The forbidden fruit of a fresh and extremely addictive oriental-woody scent, blending ginger and pineapple with the animal sensuality of ambergris and the powerful virility of sandalwood.

Upon first spraying, I get a really tropical vibe with the pineapple coming out of the gate strong and the coconut note sitting underneath. It’s juicy, creamy, and sweet with an added light spicy kick from the ginger note.

The ginger will fall away and the pineapple will lose its prominence at the top. Coconut, tonka bean, amber, and a general set of woods will dry this one up and take away the juiciness of that tropical vibe, at least.

It’s crazy how quickly that aspect fades from the picture. Sure, that sweetness stays around for the duration, just not in the same way.

Sandalwood and the tonka bean really do assist a lot at adding the creamy finish to this one. There is some powdery iris, but honestly, it gets lost in the shuffle and vanishes. Maybe it has more of a role on other people’s skin, definitely not with mine.

This one starts to turn much woodier in the dry down. Not like a green forest or anything, but more sandalwood dominant. With the cypress and other woods, the woodiness really stands out.

A light amber, tonka bean, and coconut take up the rest of the composition. It’s sweet, fresh, warm, and has an appealing aroma that’s surprisingly clean in the latter stages.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The JPG scent starts out with a great deal of power. It’s not massive, but it will project itself off the skin and can fill a room early on with enough sprays.

But, that’ll temper down and it will be basically above average in sillage for the rest of the way. Lighter for sure, just never weak until the very end.

The longevity here is really good here.  With Le Beau Le Parfum, I get somewhere in the 9 hour range. Once, it lasted about 10, but that probably is its maximum…on my skin, at least.

Those last few hours are definitely softer with how it comes across, however.

Seasonally, this one starts out as being best for spring and summer, but with the woodiness it’d work just fine in the rest of the year too. Maybe skip the depths of winter, but Le Beau works well with a variety of climates.

That’s probably a main strength of this fragrance.

It is more of a casual to nightlife sort of cologne. Not something that is going to come across as being a formal scent. Not really an office wear or anything. More suited for younger guys, but does offer a nice amount of versatility at times when you don’t need to be serious.

Overall Impressions of Le Beau Le Parfum

Overall, do I like Le Beau Le Parfum? Sure. That opening with the pineapple note, is really interesting and one of the aspects I like about Le Parfum. It is short-lived, enjoyable, but I can also see how it might get annoying after a period of time.

The rest of the way is nice. The latter stages are fine, just not my favorite. Dry and woody with tonka bean and that remaining coconut. Some might love it, but it’s not something that I’m completely into.

However, on the whole, this is a solid release from Jean Paul Gaultier. It brings something different to the table versus a lot of other fragrances in the market. Which is one of the things, JPG colognes are known for.

They’ve also released options like Paradise Garden and Flower Edition, if you want to check out a different style.

It does have a youthful and playful vibe. So, it’ll probably best serve a younger guy. A burst of tropical sweetness with a dry and creamy finish.

As one to try? Absolutely, if it sounds interesting to you, give this one a go. It can be a great pick up for the right guy.

Emblem by Mont Blanc

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Been posting quite a few Mont Blanc cologne reviews as of late and am going to finish up here today with one of the more popular scents, Emblem.

I’ve already had experience with this one in the past, but got a hold of a sample vial, in order to refresh my memory, and get my thoughts down after wearing it around.

This fragrance was released in 2014. As usual, I’ll explore what’s inside, how it smells, performs, and whether or not it is actually worth a purchase.

My Verdict

Emblem by Mont Blanc is a fresh, spicy, aromatic scent built around grapefruit, cardamom, cinnamon, violet leaf, sage, and tonka bean.

It has a nice contrast between cool and warm notes, giving it a clean but cozy feel that works best in cooler weather.

The performance is middle of the road, with lighter to moderate projection and around 6 hours before it turns into a skin scent. Overall, it’s pleasant, slightly unique, and easy to wear, but not something I’d pay full retail for.

🖋️ Emblem by Mont Blanc — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Spicy Aromatic Woody
Key Notes Grapefruit, Cardamom, Pepper, Violet Leaf, Cinnamon, Sage, Tonka Bean, Wood, Ambroxan
Season Fall, Winter, Temperate Weather
Occasion Business Casual, Formal Wear, Night Out, Cold Weather, Low-Key Daily Wear
Longevity About 6 hours before becoming a skin scent
Sillage Light to moderate — noticeable early, but not overpowering
Rating ★★★☆☆ 7.2 / 10
Quick Verdict A fresh, spicy, aromatic Mont Blanc scent with grapefruit, cardamom, cinnamon, violet leaf, sage, and tonka bean. Pleasant, cozy, and slightly unique, but the performance is only average and it’s better as a good-deal pickup than a full-retail buy.

Montblanc Emblem Fragrance Overview

Notes include: cinnamon, violet, tonka bean, sage, cardamom, grapefruit, wood, pepper, ambroxan

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Emblem Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3 fl. oz.

My Full Review

The opening of Emblem gives me a blast of grapefruit that is joined by a cool rush of cardamom, pepper, and violet leaf. After a few minutes, I start to pick up more cinnamon in the composition. It is interesting that I experience a warm and enveloping sensation at times.

Meanwhile, there is sort of a chill, that runs through this Mont Blanc cologne. I think the grapefruit and violet leaf, provide that cooling sensation. While cinnamon and cardamom, bring the warm feeling.

Within 20 minutes of applying, Emblem shifts away from the citrus top note opening, and I get an herbal and lightly spiced aroma. The violet leaf is familiar, as is the clary sage, which gives it that earthy sort of quality.

The cardamom stays pretty consistent throughout, to my nose. Meanwhile, there is a delicate hint of creamy tonka bean, that sits in the background during the dry down.

The sage note that comes in, stays fairly moderate during its peak, before retreating to the outer edges of the aroma. Emblem has a nice blend between being cozy and aromatic, slightly sweet and spicy. It’s fresh and not one, which screams for attention.

Further down the line, Emblem has a warm sweetness that feels like an equal part, when compared to the earlier spice.

It’s violet leaf, cinnamon, tonka bean, and cardamom at this point in the wear. The changes throughout are pretty subtle, but there is some jockeying between the ingredients, as time moves on.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Mont Blanc Emblem has a lighter to moderate sillage. It’s not a beast, but you’ll know that you have it on.

It sort of just becomes a part of your day and not something that intrudes and permeates while wearing. At the opening, it will form a solid perimeter around the wearer.

The longevity isn’t outstanding but not terrible either. At around 6 hours, it becomes a complete skin scent, and begins that slow evaporation process. It’s in the middle of the pack, in this regard.

Seasonally, I would slot this as a fall/winter wear, since this is built for the cold weather mainly. Temperate climate, would also be fine.

I couldn’t see myself ever reaching for Emblem during the summer months. The warm spice and later smoothness, just don’t fit really warm weather. Even with it’s lighter, ozonic aspects, I don’t think it’d fit well. At least where I live.

It’s more of a business casual to formal wear sort of cologne. You can wear it out at night, but it’s low key, so don’t expect some kind of club monster. Though, it is attractive enough to be appreciated, when someone else moves close enough.

Overall Impressions of Emblem

Overall, do I recommend Emblem? I like it. I think the aroma is overall very pleasant to wear. The longevity kind of leaves more to be desire, but it isn’t terrible.

It’s a seemingly simple scent, but it has some sneaky depth. Plus, it has some more unique aspects versus a lot of the other mainstream fare.

I like the cinnamon note, along with the cardamom. The contrast between the warm and cooling sensation is attractive.

The violet leaf doesn’t actually bother me in the mix. It’s for sure one of my least favorite notes, personally. Here, I think it works and doesn’t get on my nerves.

I don’t know that this would be my personal go to, as it occupies that cold weather space, that contains some of my favorite fragrances.

Also, in terms of Mont Blanc scents, I’ve actually been loving Legend Night, as of late. If you can get a good deal on Emblem, it’s a solid choice, not earth shattering but good all around. I wouldn’t pay full retail for it, though.

Eternity Aqua for Men by Calvin Klein

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For our next entry in our series of review of Calvin Klein colognes for men, we are going to be taking a closer look at Eternity Aqua which was introduced by the designer in 2010. Yes, it’s a much more recent and up to date version of the highly popular Eternity, though, the two are quite different fragrances even if they share the same name.

How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it even worth a try? Continue below for my full review.

Quick Overview

My Verdict

Eternity Aqua opens with a clean cucumber, citrus, and watery freshness. It has some similarity to Polo Blue EDT in the first 15-20 minutes, especially through the cucumber and marine-style freshness.

After the opening, it becomes more citrusy and fruity with plum and a Sichuan pepper kick. Later, the lavender, sandalwood, musk, and soapy quality give it some overlap with the original Eternity DNA.

This is best as a casual spring and summer fragrance. It is affordable, easy to wear, office-safe, and pleasant, but the performance is moderate and it probably will not become anyone’s signature scent.

Here’s a similar alternative from The Dua Brand: Eternal Aqua

💧 Eternity Aqua for Men — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Aquatic Green
Key Notes Chilled Cucumber, Citrus, Plum, Green Leaves, Lavender, Szechuan Pepper, Sandalwood, Musk, Cedar, Guaiac Wood
Season Spring Summer
Occasion Casual Wear, Office, School, Daytime, Warm Weather, Summer Outdoors
Longevity About 5-7 hours
Sillage Light to moderate — fresh and noticeable without being overpowering
Rating ★★★☆☆ 7.1 / 10
Quick Verdict A crisp, clean, affordable fresh scent with cucumber, citrus, plum, lavender, musk, sandalwood, and a cool watery feel. Great for summer and casual daily wear, but not very unique or especially powerful.

What does Eternity Aqua for Men Smell Like?

eternity aqua

Notes include: green leaves, white cedar, citrus, guaiac wood, water lotus, patchouli, Szechuan pepper, mirabelle, lavender, sandalwood, musk, chilled cucumber

On Amazon: Calvin Klein ETERNITY for Men AQUA Eau de Toilette, 3.4 fl. oz.

My Full Wear Review

For many of the aquatic fragrances, I am of the thought that I will only wear them in certain circumstances, and that none of them have ever become an everyday wear for me. That isn’t to say that I don’t like aquatics, I do, I just find these scents are more of a specialty item for my own personal style than anything else.

That being said, I think Eternity Aqua is a really good, but not great option in this category of scent.

(Update: Here in 2022, I am higher on this cologne than before, as the price has come way down, and it’s entered bargain territory. Now, it’s well worth a shot for the price).

The construction of its notes aren’t really aquatic at all, in the sense of having sea note (like Bvlgari Aqva). It’s almost something else posing as an aquatic fragrance.

Eternity Aqua is really crisp in clean in its presentation and when the cucumber note emerges, I find it to be rather soothing as well. While it does mimic aquatic colognes in some respects, I feel that it is more of a sporty scent full of fresh green aromas than anything marine based.

Coming back to this fragrance, years after this original review, it now smells a whole lot like Polo Blue EDT to my nose. I didn’t make the connection before, but the opening 15-20 minutes, are really close.

The cucumber and marine aspects are what give it that similarity to the Polo cologne, but it is separated by a plum note and citrus ingredients. The plum comes in more later on, but it is there at the top.

After about 30 minutes or so, I get less of the cucumber, and more citrus/plum with a Sichuan pepper kick. At this point, it is much like a lot of other marine based fragrances, with a citrus spiciness leading the way.

Then, it kind moves towards being like the original Eternity. They don’t completely overlap but with the lavender, sandalwood, and soapy quality during the dry down, you can tell that Aqua shares that DNA with a CK classic.

It’s got more citrus than the original and has more of that cool watery vibe. But with musky, sandalwood, and lavender giving it some familiarity.

Sillage, Longevity, and When to Wear

This fragrance is a light option, so unless you drown yourself in it, it shouldn’t offend and have people running away from you. Eternity Aqua isn’t a weak fragrance, just one that is fresh and not overly heavy.

I haven’t found it to be particularly long-lasting, but it isn’t a complete let down either, it’s somewhat moderate in that regard around 5-7 hours. I wish it were more of a beast, but for what I paid, it’s good enough.

Aqua is best left to the summer months, when the warm temperatures, can cause many other scents to wilt in the exposure. It does blend some citrus and floral notes which gives it an interesting opening before it settles down into a light, clean, and almost powdery like aroma.

I wouldn’t mind wearing this at all during the daytime in the summer months, as it presents itself perfectly well, and the scent while it is nothing too unique is attractive and pleasant.

People seem to like the way this smells and it is one that will gather complements. It’s not really sexy but has such a great freshness, that it becomes attractive. It is a casual scent and one that is safe for office or school wear.

Overall Impressions of Eternity Aqua

All in all, if you need an affordable option for the warmer months, Eternity Aqua by Calvin Klein is a solid performer that will get the job done. It smells really good, isn’t overpowering, has decent longevity, and can be had at a good price.

It isn’t unique, but not everything needs to be. This one is a cheaper alternative to Polo Blue and in many ways, is actually a better fragrance. Is it groundbreaking? Nope, but now that you can grab it at $30 or less, it’s a steal.

I like the mix of crisp cucumber, spice, and the plum note in the early stages of the wear. To me, that’s the best part of the wear. After that it’s pretty basic and there isn’t too much development.

The performance is just okay, not going to blow the doors off or anything. I was tending to over-spray Eternity Aqua on me, when I was using it over the summer. That’s the way I could get some level of longevity with it.

I don’t  think that this Calvin Klein cologne will be anybody’s signature. Just something to add to the lineup that won’t break the bank, but has a nice scent.

FAQ: Eternity Aqua for Men by Calvin Klein

What does Eternity Aqua for Men smell like?

Eternity Aqua smells clean, crisp, watery, green, and lightly fruity. It opens with cucumber, citrus, green notes, and a cool aquatic feel, then dries down into plum, pepper, lavender, musk, sandalwood, and a soapy freshness.

Is Eternity Aqua a good cologne?

Yes, Eternity Aqua is a good affordable fresh cologne. It is not groundbreaking, but it smells pleasant, clean, and easy to wear.

How long does Eternity Aqua last?

Eternity Aqua lasts around 5-7 hours. The performance is moderate, but acceptable for a lighter fresh fragrance.

Does Eternity Aqua project well?

Eternity Aqua has light to moderate projection. It is noticeable, but not heavy or overpowering.

Is Eternity Aqua good for summer?

Yes, Eternity Aqua is best for summer and warm weather. Its cucumber, citrus, green, and watery notes work well in the heat.

Is Eternity Aqua good for the office?

Yes. Eternity Aqua is clean, safe, and not too strong, which makes it a good office or school fragrance.

Is Eternity Aqua similar to Polo Blue?

Eternity Aqua has some similarity to Polo Blue EDT, especially in the opening. The cucumber, watery freshness, citrus, and clean blue-green style create overlap.

Is Eternity Aqua better than the original Eternity?

Eternity Aqua is fresher, cooler, and more aquatic than the original Eternity. The original has more of a classic lavender, sandalwood, and soapy feel, while Aqua is better for hot weather.

Is Eternity Aqua unique?

Not really. Eternity Aqua smells good, but it is not very unique. Its appeal is more about being clean, affordable, and easy to wear.

Is Eternity Aqua worth buying?

Yes, Eternity Aqua is worth buying if you can find it at a discount. It is a solid warm-weather fragrance that smells good, performs decently, and does not cost much.

Ultra Male by Jean Paul Gaultier

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In today’s post, I am going to be taking a closer look at a cologne by Jean Paul Gaultier called, Ultra Male. This is a flanker fragrance to the now classic, Le Male. Ultra Male was released in 2015 and occupies a similar bottle to the original JPG scent.

What does it smell like? How does it perform? When should it be worn? Is it better than Le Male? Please continue reading below for my impressions after a few wears.

Quick Overview

My Verdict

Ultra Male opens with pear, vanilla, cinnamon, mint, and citrus. The pear is the main attraction early on, creating a candy-like sweetness that can come across almost bubblegum-like.

As it dries down, lavender and vanilla become more important, while amber and woods add warmth. It has some overlap with Le Male, but the pear note and lack of powder make Ultra Male feel more like its own scent.

This is best as a cold-weather nightlife fragrance. It is sweet, youthful, strong, and attention-grabbing, but it can become too much in the heat or in professional settings.

🍐 Ultra Male by Jean Paul Gaultier — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Sweet Spicy Amber
Key Notes Vanilla, Pear, Amber, Woods, Cinnamon, Cumin, Sage, Lavender, Mint
Season Fall Winter
Occasion Nightlife, Parties, Dates, Cold Weather, Casual Evening Wear
Longevity About 9+ hours, with double-digit wear possible
Sillage Strong — can project heavily, so go light indoors
Rating ★★★★☆ 8 / 10
Quick Verdict A sweet, spicy, youthful nightlife fragrance with pear, vanilla, lavender, cinnamon, mint, amber, and woods. Great performance and strong projection, but best saved for cold weather and nights out.

Notes include: vanilla, pear, amber, woods, cinnamon, cumin, sage, lavender, mint

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male for Men Intense Spray, Eau de Toilette, 4.2 Ounce

What does Ultra Male by JPG Smell Like?

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Ultra Male is a meeting of the pear, vanilla, cinnamon, mint, and citrus notes that produces a candy-like sweetness that is akin to bubble gum. Now, this may not sound appealing for some folks but it quickly settles on my skin into something that is warm and smooth, and a scent that I find very appealing.

The pear note is the main attraction early on. Mint and cinnamon surround it and provide the composition with a definite spiciness. Ultra Male is intense straight out of the bottle, with a very captivating aroma.

Next up, the lavender and vanilla begin to move in. Lavender and pear share the spotlight, with an increasingly strong vanilla coming in more later.

The most noticeable difference between this and the famous, Le Male, is the complete lack of that powdery aroma that was so prevalent in that JPG cologne.

While there is a lot of overlap between these two scents, the strength of each note is different, and the inclusion of the pear makes Ultra Male a standalone scent from its progenitor.

I’m just going to say it right now, I am enjoying Ultra Male more than Le Male, which I also liked a lot.

During the dry down, it turns into a vanilla, lavender, and amber laden fragrance on my skin. It at times, reminds me of a more youthful and sweeter Luna Rossa Sport.

Not saying its the same, but the lavender and vanilla combo, are obviously going to deliver at least somewhat similar results.

Ultra Male is a super fresh and sweet kind of scent that is going to be a nice addition to any night life fragrance collection.

There is a slight spiciness provided by the cinnamon note which prevents the cologne from become a complete mess and that is further bolstered by the mint note, which seems to be more in the background than it was in Le Male.

Ultra Male sort of falls into the same category as a fragrance like, 1 Million, does. Smooth, candy-like sweetness, with enough staying power to be a night club favorite.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, I would rate it as a very strong starter that fades into something much more moderate. While it is in the same ‘family’, so to speak as 1 Million, it doesn’t have the same loud and bold projection.

It certainly isn’t weak and with enough sprays it is capable of overpowering, but with my 1-3 spray tests, Ultra Male was perfectly tolerable.

Update: with further wear, once I got a full bottle, this does project itself a lot more than you can tell. People will notice, so, go light when inside enclosed areas. It’s actually kind of massive with how it projects. I do have a bottle of the initial release, so, I don’t know if Ultra got weakened over the years.

It does have great longevity on my skin, 9-ish hours, maybe a little longer on some wears (depending on the weather or other environmental circumstances). It’s pretty excellent in that regard.

Update: I do get double digit hours of wear, fairly regularly with Ultra Male. It does depend greatly on the climate, see below.

Cold weather scent. Like Le Male, Ultra Male would turn to crap in the heat, so if your climate is warm year round, this probably isn’t the best bet.

On the other hand, if you plan on wearing it at night, I have done so effectively when the temperature was in the mid-70s Fahrenheit but it thrives in the cold.

 

Really, I would not wear this at all when it is hot out. It becomes a pretty big mess, so if you’re going to have this, also have a spring/summer scent to wear. In the cold, it is at its peak and can be a great wear.

You could wear this as a daytime scent, as it isn’t too loud (with light sprays), but I love it for nights out and party-type atmospheres. It’s an attractive, almost unisex kind of fragrance, with a sweet sexiness that women seem to enjoy.

I’ve mostly been wearing this on winter evenings out, just casually from time to time, and around the house. I’m not sure that I’d try to make this a daily wear. Especially for guys, who work in a professional setting. That’s not what this cologne does.

Ultra Male can come across as very sweet and has a youthful party vibe. I am older than the target demo of this cologne and like it a lot. Yet, I find myself not always wanting to indulge in it, with its candy-like aroma.

Overall Impressions of Ultra Male

Overall, would I recommend Ultra Male as a buy? Yes, provided you like this kind of scent. Some guys don’t like the sweets and if that’s you, pass on this cologne.

Otherwise, I find this to be a fun wear, and prefer it to the original Le Male…it just strikes me as better on the whole.  This is another great entry from Jean Paul Gaultier.

The performance is great and the smell is really nice. It can come across as unisex, at times, but for the nightlife it’s a great pick up. The uses for this can be limited, outside of that. So, one will need to assess exactly what you’re wanting it for.

Update: The longer that I’ve had this, the less I wear it. The pear note doesn’t really do it for me anymore and it’s super sweet/spicy mix, isn’t something that I always want to wear. It’s still something for younger guys to wear and not a fragrance that’s going to be a daily wear for most people.

I definitely don’t dislike it, but it’s more something that I wear on occasion. Ultra Male is still one of the better releases in the series, which has produced a lot of just ‘okay’ colognes over the years.

FAQ: Ultra Male by Jean Paul Gaultier

What does Ultra Male smell like?

Ultra Male smells sweet, spicy, fresh, and warm. It opens with pear, vanilla, cinnamon, mint, and citrus, then dries down into lavender, vanilla, amber, and woods.

Is Ultra Male better than Le Male?

Ultra Male is better if you want something sweeter, stronger, more youthful, and more nightlife-focused. Le Male is better if you prefer the classic powdery lavender-vanilla style.

How long does Ultra Male last?

Ultra Male lasts around 9 hours or more, and double-digit wear is possible depending on weather, skin, and spray amount.

Does Ultra Male project well?

Yes. Ultra Male projects very strongly, especially from a full bottle or with heavier sprays. It can become overpowering indoors, so lighter spraying is better.

Is Ultra Male good for winter?

Yes. Ultra Male is best in cold weather. The pear, vanilla, amber, cinnamon, and lavender perform especially well in fall and winter.

Is Ultra Male good for summer?

No, Ultra Male is not a great summer fragrance. It can become too sweet, heavy, and messy in hot weather.

Is Ultra Male good for clubbing?

Yes. Ultra Male is one of its best uses. The sweet pear, vanilla, spice, strong projection, and long wear make it a strong nightlife fragrance.

Is Ultra Male a good everyday fragrance?

Not for most people. It can be worn casually with light sprays, but it is usually better as a night-out, party, date, or cold-weather fragrance.

Is Ultra Male too sweet?

Ultra Male can be too sweet for some people. The pear, vanilla, and candy-like opening give it a very sweet profile.

Is Ultra Male worth buying?

Ultra Male is worth buying if you want a strong, sweet, youthful nightlife fragrance. Skip it if you dislike sweet fragrances or need something more versatile for work and daily wear.

Neroli Portofino by Tom Ford

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Continuing on with my Tom Ford fragrance reviews, today we have a citrusy-floral perfume from the designer. This is a 2011 release entitled, Neroli Portofino. It is actually one of the more popular scents from the lineup, but what makes that so? How does it smell? What’s inside? Is Neroli Portofino even worth it?

Quick Overview

My Verdict

Neroli Portofino opens with a bright citrus burst, led mostly by lemon and orange blossom. The neroli becomes more noticeable later, while the opening feels juicy, floral, clean, and slightly soapy.

As it dries down, the citrus fades back but never fully disappears. Jasmine, lavender, neroli, and amber make up most of the later wear, giving it a clean citrus-white floral profile.

It is best for spring and summer, especially daytime and warm weather. The scent is enjoyable and high quality, but the performance is light for the price, so it is better to sample first or buy only if you really love this style.

What does Neroli Portofino Smell Like?

Notes include: neroli, orange flower, amber, mandarin, bergamot, jasmine, lavender, lemon

Click here to try: Tom Ford Neroli Portofino 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray

🍊 Neroli Portofino by Tom Ford — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Citrus White Floral
Key Notes Neroli, Orange Flower, Mandarin, Bergamot, Lemon, Jasmine, Lavender, Amber
Season Spring Summer
Occasion Daytime, Warm Weather, Casual Wear, Vacation, Clean Fresh Wear, Unisex Use
Longevity About 5-6 hours
Sillage Light to moderate — noticeable for the first couple of hours, then sits close to the skin
Rating ★★★☆☆ 6.9 / 10
Quick Verdict A juicy citrus-white floral fragrance with lemon, orange blossom, neroli, jasmine, lavender, amber, and a clean soapy feel. It smells very nice, but the light projection and 5-6 hour longevity make it tough to justify at Tom Ford prices.

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Neroli Portofino presents my nose with a citrus burst, mainly comprised of lemon, and a mix of floral notes particularly orange blossom at first and then the neroli.

The neroli will come into its own, later in the wear. But, initially I get a lot more orange blossom than the namesake of the perfume.

It’s juicy citrus with floral undertones and a noticeable soapy quality. It actually feels quite similar to other scents that I have tried, so this isn’t one that I can say is wholly unique.

Is there a spiciness here? Sure, neroli and the rosemary briefly give Neroli Portofino some kick, but it’s not to the same extent as some of the other Tom Ford releases, that share this same sort of style.

There is a nice amber note within the composition which adds a different aspect to this fragrance besides really clean citrus-flower. It creates a warm heart and adds to the inviting soapy vibe, though it isn’t very powerful.

As it dries down, I begin to get more of the neroli, less of the lemon and orange notes and the jasmine peaks through also. Neroli Portofino is admittedly pretty darn linear in its presentation.

Sure, the citrus subsides more, but it never really goes away to become just a floral fragrance. The only further development to my nose from here, is some lavender, entering the picture.

Neroli, jasmine, lavender, and some amber for the rest of the wear. Citrusy white floral, when boiled down.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of Neroli Portofino is pretty light to moderate. It’s by no means a bomb, but you’ll notice it for the first couple of hours with a decent amount of application. After that, this Tom Ford perfume, sits quite close to the skin.

If you want any sort of real projection with it, you’re going to have to spray heavy.

The longevity isn’t great, but I get about 5-6 hours of wear from it. It doesn’t seem like it lasts very long, because it isn’t one that projects itself very well, but it is still there.

Even still, 5 or 6 hours of wear at this price, is pretty bad. The performance takes Neroli Portofino down a few notches, in my book.

Seasonally, this is one for the spring and summer months. I’d lean more toward wearing it in the summertime, due to the great citrus elements. That’s actually my favorite aspect of this scent, the lemon and orange zesty element that hangs around during the wear.

Neroli Portofino is listed as a unisex perfume and it is. I’d say that it leans more toward the female side of things, since it is pretty flowery, but it isn’t overly so and not feminine enough to take away the unisex aspect.

Overall Impressions of Neroli Portofino

Overall, do I like it? I do enjoy the scent of Neroli Portofino, but I wouldn’t buy it for myself. It smells very nice, but the longevity and sillage isn’t great enough for me to justify paying Tom Ford prices for it.

Plus, there are many other scents that have a similar or almost exactly the same aroma for a better price. Good fragrance? Absolutely. Worth it? Ehhh, not for me at least.

I like the citrus notes and the opening act. The floral dry down is nice, but it gets a little too soapy. I prefer the fruits to the floral notes. Forte goes too hard with the citrus notes and is nicer, when it dries down.

The citrus and orange blossom, I usually prefer over neroli anyway. That being said, the neroli note in this is spectacular in its quality. Very fine stuff, if it’s a scent that you personally enjoy. Though, it’s not really a fragrance that everyone needs in their collection.

FAQ: Neroli Portofino by Tom Ford

What does Tom Ford Neroli Portofino smell like?

Neroli Portofino smells like juicy citrus, orange blossom, neroli, jasmine, lavender, amber, and clean soap. It is fresh, floral, bright, and very clean.

Is Neroli Portofino for men or women?

Neroli Portofino is unisex. It may lean slightly feminine to some people because of the floral side, but it still works well as a unisex fragrance.

How long does Neroli Portofino last?

Neroli Portofino lasts around 5-6 hours. The scent is still noticeable, but it does not project strongly for very long.

Does Neroli Portofino project well?

Projection is light to moderate. It is noticeable for the first couple of hours with enough sprays, then sits much closer to the skin.

Is Neroli Portofino good for summer?

Yes. Neroli Portofino is best for spring and summer, especially because of its lemon, orange, neroli, and clean floral freshness.

Is Neroli Portofino worth buying?

It smells very good, but it is hard to justify at Tom Ford pricing because the performance is not great. It is worth trying if you love citrus-white floral fragrances, but not a must-buy.

Is Neroli Portofino soapy?

Yes. Neroli Portofino has a noticeable soapy quality, especially alongside the citrus, neroli, orange blossom, jasmine, lavender, and amber.

Is Neroli Portofino unique?

Not especially. It fits into a familiar citrus-floral style, though the neroli itself smells high quality.

When should you wear Neroli Portofino?

Wear Neroli Portofino during warm weather, spring, summer, daytime, vacations, casual settings, or anytime you want a clean citrus-floral scent.

Is Neroli Portofino better than Neroli Portofino Forte?

The original has the better opening, while Forte is better later in the dry down. The original is the better choice if you want more citrus and orange blossom freshness.