Cologne Reviews

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.

Bleu de Chanel EDP by Chanel

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The original Bleu de Chanel became and remains a very popular men’s fragrance. The next release from this line, and the subject of today’s review, is Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum. The EDP version, is obviously going to have a higher concentration of fragrance, but what does it actually smell like? How long does it last? Is the sillage good? Is this version even worth a try?

What Does Bleu de Chanel EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, sandalwood, amber, vanilla, tonka bean, ginger, mint, and more

Click here to try: Bleu De Chaneâ…¼ Eau De Parfum Pour Homme Spray 1.7 Fl. OZ. / 50ML.

My Full Review

Bleu de Chanel EDP opens up with a sharp blast of citrus fruit, led by grapefruit, and some fresh spicy notes. Mint, ginger, and pink pepper are there. Though, I pick up mainly ginger and pink pepper, with a bit of mint.

Underneath all of this, is the warm amber. Yes, this Chanel fragrance, is a lot like its predecessor and the newer BdC Parfum release. Nonetheless, it can stand on its own as a distinct scent.

The citrus notes, dominate the composition, but are joined by the spicier notes in the beginning. Then, it will transition more into a citrus, amber, and smoky incense aroma.

It strikes me as sharp and fresh at first, then, it is warmer and smooth. Grapefruit and lemon, when blended with these other notes, can give off almost an orange-like scent at times to my nose.

As we move further along, Bleu, starts to regain some freshness. Not from the spicy notes, rather, the wood begins to emerge. Cedar with some sandalwood.

It comes across as quite clean, with the citrus sitting on top, and floating in a sea of amber. There is some sweetness from tonka bean and vanilla, in the latter stages, that got overlooked during that opening act.

I will say, for having: tonka bean, sandalwood, and vanilla this doesn’t have the level of creaminess that you might expect. It is there to an extent, as noted below, but you’d might think it’d be more so.

The final part of Bleu de Chanel EDP, is a fresh citrus and woodsy scent. Not as much amber, in my mind, but the sandalwood is nice and creamy and still paired with that clean cedar.

I did once get sent an odd bottle of Bleu EDP by mistake once, when I had ordered Allure Sport Eau Extreme. The bottle was cracked, but the smell of the scent itself was also way off. Too heavily weighted with the amber and felt screechy.

Bad batch, but it did give me an idea, about how bad this could turn out without the refined balance of this formula.

Sillage, How Long Does Bleu de Chanel EDP Last, Versatility

The projection on this one, isn’t super powerful. I’d say that the sillage starts of pretty strong, but settles, close to the wearer. Bleu isn’t a monster with its sillage and won’t really take over a room. It has a nice performance, but it is nothing insane.

It is, however, more persistent than the EDT or Parfum versions of Bleu. Parfum does feel lighter once it gets into its woody phase, despite the higher fragrance concentration.

The longevity is good, but not incredible. I can hit 8 hours, with it on my skin, but the last few are close to the skin. This EDP isn’t a powerhouse, but will do just fine, in almost any circumstance. Unless, you really needed it to go for 12+ hours or something.

While I’ve worn this in the summer, I’m not too in love with it, in the heat. I think that Bleu is at its best, in a more temperate climate. Spring or autumn, is when this one will really shine. It can be worn year round, and won’t be a mess in any climate, but it does have a sweet spot.

It gets really hot and humid, where I live. For me, it’s not a year round option. Other men will have better luck, in that department.

Bleu de Chanel is more than a casual fragrance. I think the EDP is somewhat more formal than the EDT, but manages to retain plenty of versatility. It of course works extremely well, as a dressed up perfume, but I’ve worn it with t-shirt and jeans. It didn’t seem out of place.

The whole Bleu series is a basic, ‘can do everything’ sort of cologne. I’d say ‘almost’ everything, but the versatility here is absolutely great.

Is it well liked by other people? Yes. EDP is very attractive. Sexy while being mature and women will complement it.

Overall Impressions of Bleu EDP

Do I like Bleu de Chanel Eau de Parfum? Yes, I do. I think that I can safely say, it is my favorite scent from the BdC line, or at least the one I’d choose most of the time.

It is more complex and interesting than the EDT, while retaining more of the citrus when compared to, Bleu Parfum.

I really like the citrus notes here. The opening with the spice is cool, but I prefer the dry down, when I get my amber and woody notes. Parfum goes deeper into that direction, but I enjoy this more, as I get a greater representation of the other notes too.

I’m pretty sure nowadays, that Eau de Parfum is the best seller from the line. Just about every website has it ranked higher than the other Bleu scents, when you sort them.

That’s when this one is super smooth and just beautiful to wear. It’s a fragrance, that does everything well, from its ingredients to overall performance. Bleu de Chanel EDP, is kind of a no-brainer scent, it just works. Not really one you can go wrong with. That’s why there’s so many perfumes trying to clone Bleu de Chanel.

Is it going to be everyone’s favorite? Not necessarily. Some might find this boring. To me, it’s got more depth than it may be given credit for. There’s plenty going on here, but it still maintains an unreal ability to be mass appealing.

Acqua di Gio EDP by Armani

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Acqua di Gio keeps rolling right along with the 2022 release of the eau de parfum version. This following on the heels of the Profondo flankers. It’s finally available for purchase here in the US. How does this one smell? How does it compare? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Acqua di Gio EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: green mandarin, patchouli, sage, vetiver, geranium, lavandin, marine notes

Click here to try: Buy from Amazon

adg eau de parfum review

My Full Review

Let’s see how Armani describes it: ACQUA DI GIÃ’ EAU DE PARFUM encapsulates a powerful, long-lasting freshness, where innovative marine notes blend with natural green mandarin, sage, vetiver, patchouli, and a woody mineral dry-down. The infinite horizon of the sea is captured in a new innovative refill bottle.

If you’ve tried it, you can post a review and score in the comment section below.

Acqua di Gio EDP starts off much like Profondo Lights and Profondo. I’d say it’s closer to the former, with the prominent green mandarin note, but thankfully none of the cardamom. That was the note, which made me not really care for Lights.

The mandarin feels more pronounced in this eau de parfum version. It’s bright and much juicier/sweet than the Profondo colognes.

A strong citrus start, some of the blueish sea notes, sage, and geranium. Another thing that it lack is, the cypress note of the Profondo scents.

Is this similar to the EDT? Yes, but the original AdG has more of a floral feel. But, you can obviously tell that all of these fragrances are related. I always get a lot of jasmine on my skin with the original.

After a while, that top will start to burn off. EDP becomes less citrus dominant and the patchouli, sage, and geranium really start to come in stronger. During this part, the eau de parfum will start to resemble Profumo, and less of the Profondo editions.

It’s interesting, Acqua di Gio EDP will do its own thing to an extent, but it closely mimics the other releases throughout the duration of the wear.

So, during the Profumo-like part, it lacks the incense smokiness and darker feeling of that fragrance…but it’s near identical outside of that.

That too, will start to shift. This becomes a drier fragrance as it moves on. You do still get that sweetness from the mandarin note, but patchouli, the fresh mix, and a touch of the mineral note is most of the rest of the development.

The mineral note is there, like in Profumo, just toned down. Especially towards the end, its a lot of patchouli, vetiver, and that mineral note. The sage, mandarin, and geranium are basically just an impression that you can vaguely pick up on.

gio edp review

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one starts off with a decent amount of power. But, it will go quickly into moderate territory, and follow that up being fairly light.

Acqua di Gio EDP isn’t a powerhouse, nor a beast performer. It’s been solid on my skin, for about two hours, then it enters its lighter phase.

How long does EDP last? In total, 6-8 hours. Keep in mind, those last hours are very much a skin scent, but I can still pick it up on me during that time period.

Update: After wearing this fragrance a large number of times, it skews much closer to the six hour range than it does the eight. It is still capable of hitting 8, EDP just isn’t consistent in this regard.

The performance here is just okay. Not going to blow the doors off or anything, just be pretty much serviceable in its wear.

Seasonally, this like the others in the series, is a spring and summertime fragrance. But, a super versatile daily wear within that timeframe. Plus, it wouldn’t be too out of place during the rest of the year, but there are better options for cold weather.

Also, the age range is wide. From younger men to older, no problems. It’s enjoyable, but not a club beast, and I’m not sure if it’d be classified as being ‘sexy’. I haven’t worn it around any women, yet, so I’m not sure.

acqua eau de parfum

Overall Impressions of AdG Eau de Parfum

Overall, do I like Acqua di Gio EDP? I do like it. Though, it’s not completely amazing, nor a must have. If you already have other AdG fragrances, you probably won’t need this.

I do like it more than Profondo Lights, but maybe a notch below Profondo and Profumo, during this initial testing phase.

I really like the opening act. That mandarin note is great, giving you that citrus juiciness without as much in the way, as with the Profondo scents. I also enjoy the fact that I get to experience the others in the series, all wrapped up into one bottle.

I already have my Profumo bottle and this will give me elements of the others, during this spring and summer.

I do wish that this was a stronger scent. The longevity is well enough, but if it could pack a punch for a longer time, this would be more worthwhile. Better than the EDT? Yes, but that’s been weakened over the years, and this isn’t a huge step up.

I like its aromatic freshness and the fact that it doesn’t go too heavy with the mineral note. I do kind of wish that it was more marine, adding more of that ‘sea note’ accord.

On the whole? I’m enjoying EDP thus far. Is it a buy? Sure. However, you might not need it, if you’re already someone who has bottles of the other.

Update: After almost a year of having it and using quite a bit during the last summer, I must say it still basically holds up, as far as me enjoying it. I still really like that opening hour or so way more than I do the dry down. Though, I’ve knocked a couple of points off my original score below, in this update.

Also, wearing Acqua di Gio EDP outside, it’s a much more likeable fragrance for the duration. Indoors, it starts to feel very casual and not all that compelling. I’m going to finish off this bottle and don’t think that I’m ever going to re-up.

If not? Give it a try, you might like it better than Profondo or Profumo. To me, it’s up there. Not necessarily a must have, but I don’t regret buying a full bottle, in the slightest.