Cologne Reviews

Little Italy by Bond No. 9

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With my latest batch of samples, I grabbed a few more scents from the Bond No. 9 collection of fragrances. Today, I am going to be reviewing the unisex scent, Little Italy from this design house. As usual, I am going to cover how it smells, performs, what I like about it, and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Little Italy by Bond No.9 Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, grapefruit, neroli, clementine, and musk

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Little Italy by Bond No. 9 For Men And Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3-Ounces

My Full Wear Review

So, Little Italy, starts out with a heavy dose of citrus provided by the mandarin orange. I really like the orange note in this fragrance, as many others have such a flat and uninspiring orange note in their scents, but this one is highly realistic and juicy.

Maybe it’s the addition of the clementine, giving it some extra support. Either way I find it enjoyable.

Right away, if you don’t like citrus, stay away from Bond No. 9’s Little Italy, because that is essentially what this consists of. It is a fairly linear scent, as after about 20-30 minutes the juiciness fades a bit, and their is a hint of neroli and musk.

Honestly, the floral and musk, isn’t that noticeable. I had to focus myself quite a lot, just to be able to detect it. Pretty much, what you smell initially, is what you’re going to get out of this.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s decent. Thankfully, it’s not a monster in that regard, because I doubt anyone would want that intense of a fruit juice scent. It has all of the sillage that it needs to have.

It stays moderate for the first couple of hours before drawing down to its final close. Overall, not terrible.

The longevity is okay, I got maybe 4-5 hours out of the wear. Nothing special but certainly not incredibly awful. At this price point, it’s not great, however. I would definitely want more from Little Italy before grabbing a full bottle.

This is a casual scent for the warmer months. Not a date night scent or anything of the sort. I don’t think you would even wear it at work. So, it becomes pretty limited with its use case. Understand that going in. Spring and summertime, while just hanging about town.

Even though, it is a unisex fragrance, I don’t anyone of either sex would find this one to be ‘sexy’. It’s bright, upbeat, and quite pleasant in my opinion but not sexy.

That being said, this one does lean much more traditionally feminine. There are plenty of citrus and neroli scents out there with more balance, but this goes more toward a ladies’ perfume.

Overall Impressions of Little Italy

Overall, is Little Italy worth a buy? Not unless you really love orange and clementine. I do like this scent on some level and I think the orange note is very well done. However, it’s also quite expensive, and really simplistic.

The performance is just okay. The sillage isn’t bad, but the longevity is below average. I don’t hate it but it doesn’t strike me as something to run out and buy either.

Mandarin isn’t my favorite citrus note, it’s fine here. I do like the clementine which gives it somewhat of a unique vibe versus some others in this space. Not one of the best from Bond No. 9 and ultimately not particularly worth it.

Very Irresistible for Men by Givenchy

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Givenchy has a wide range of colognes for men that are stylish and memorable. I recently received a sample of one of their more popular fragrances, Very Irresistible.  I have worn this cologne a bit lately and would like to use this post in order to share my thoughts and give my opinion on this fairly unique scent.

What does Very Irresistible for Men Smell Like?

very irr

Notes include: Hazelnut, coffee, mint, grapefruit, sesame, and cedar

My Full Wear Review

The first thing that strikes me about this fragrance is how rich and enveloping it is. To me, it’s a pretty heavy scent but not in a way that will choke those around you, though, I wouldn’t put a ton of it on.

What I detect most is the hazelnut and coffee notes, which is of course reminiscent of a hot cup of coffee in the morning. However, the mint note makes this take on a chocolatey/mocha scent that makes it fall into the gourmand category.

It is definitely a sweet cologne, yet, still retains a completely masculine vibe…probably aided by the woodsy cedar note. That rich and warm quality which I wrote about above really reminds me of Versace Eros. The two fragrances do not smell alike at all but I get that same kind of enveloping feeling with both of them.

The most interesting aspect of the notes to me is the emergence of the grapefruit and mint. I am a fan of mint notes in cologne, see: Guerlain (love it!) and Le Male. The mint in Very Irresistible is wholly different from those two fragrances, as it takes on a much more woodsy/green quality…but it makes this Givenchy scent really pop.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The opening does give you that bold and far reaching heaviness, that I wrote about. It tones down quite a lot after maybe 20 minutes of wear and is actually somewhat moderate once you get to that stage.

But, that opening is large enough to pull it firmly in the above average sillage camp.

The longevity was in the 6-7.5 hour range. Not bad, just never really hit a high level of performance. It’s about what you’d expect from this sort of designer cologne.

It’s such a dark and engaging fragrance that I believe it demands to be worn in the late fall and early wintertime. The sweetness, the greenness, and the gourmand aroma would really do well in that type of cooler environment.

It’s attractive enough for the nightlife and dates. I’d wear this out or more in casual situations versus trying to have it on in a professional setting.

My Overall Impressions 

With all that being said, would I recommend, Very Irresistible? I’d say that I would. However, I don’t think it is the right scent for everyone. I don’t feel that it is the right scent for me, I found it quite nice at first but after a while, I just couldn’t enjoy it anymore.

It’s just way too rich for my tastes. If you are a fan of the gourmand type of fragrance and love a sweet/green type of scent, I would say this is a very good bet. I love a lot of gourmand scents, but this one is just pretty good.

Updating this page years later, this Givenchy has been long discontinued. You can still track down bottles if you want to try it out. Which, it’d still need to be the right price, as anything above a certain point (maybe $50-60) would be overpaying for most guys.

Cool Water by Davidoff

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Cool Water has been an insanely popular men’s fragrance since its release in 1988 and has pretty much achieved classic status, at this point. It’s a fragrance that I have interacted with a number of times over the years, but never got around to giving a full review on the website.

As such, I have gotten a hold of a sample to try out this Davidoff creation once again. I will note that older releases like this, do get reformulated and changed, from exactly what their original incarnations were. That is possibly the case here, but I’m reviewing from the latest edition, in 2019.

What does Davidoff Cool Water Smell Like?

Notes include: lavender, mint, tobacco, amber, musk, jasmine, sandalwood, neroli, coriander, rosemary, and more

Click here to try: Davidoff Cool Water Edt Spray for Men, 6.7 oz

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Cool Water is quite aquatic to my nose, but bolstered by the inclusion of both mint and tobacco. Pretty sharp/ The tobacco smells quite green and unprocessed, sort of like that found in Versace’s Dreamer.

It is slightly spicy with a crisp cold air running through the heart of the scent. Very refreshing and clean, with bits of lavender and neroli floral essence.

As it moves along, Cool Water feels more soapy and woody, and this is the part that gets compared to Green Irish Tweed or Chez Bond. I’d say it’s closer to the latter, but again, has much more of an aquatic aroma than either of those do.

Is Cool Water better than either? Almost certainly not, but it is wayyyy cheaper than either of those pricey colognes. The rosemary doesn’t feel all that heavy to my nose, though, it is detectable just not all that prominent.

Then, after that soapy phase, it becomes more aquatic with a dry woods undertone. So, I get marine notes, mint, and lavender. The tobacco note fades, while the neroli hangs around somewhat. Then, there is dry oak moss and sandalwood at the base.

Eventually, a slight musk shows up. To me, the mint and aquatic elements, really make this scent. It’s like a nice pick me up, not too complex, but still attractive after all these years.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage on Cool Water was never crazy, but it was stronger in the past. It’s not bad now, just more of a moderate, but not a skin scent. It’ll probably require an extra spray or two, to hit that old level of sillage.

Still, it’s fine on me. I get an hour or so where it’s really leaving a solid scent trail in my wake. Thereafter it still sticks around like 3-4 feet from the skin. Finally, settling down into something more intimate in the late back half of the wear.

Longevity, also must have taken a hit. I’ve gotten 8+ hours from it in the past, but this batch hit right around 6, maybe close to 7 at times. Now, it could just be this particular batch I’m trying that is weak, but I don’t think this is an isolated case.

When compared to many other scents from this era, that are still around, Cool Water actually hasn’t lost all that much of its essence. It is worthwhile to get, if you enjoyed the scent years, even now.

Is Cool Water a versatile scent? Yep, always has been. It is great for office or casual wear. Not super sexy, but attractive enough to draw complements. This still gets worn by a lot of guys, but probably not as many as before, so you might actually stand out nowadays wearing this Davidoff cologne.

Seasonally, it’s a warm weather wear, and the that cool aquatic aroma is really nice when the temperatures heat up. Although, you could really wear it year round. It wouldn’t be bad in the winter months, just doesn’t project that cold climate feeling. The refreshing aspect is great when spring and summer roll around.

Overall Impression of Cool Water

Overall, is Cool Water worth a try? I’ll still say that it is worth a shot. It’s not exactly the same as it used to be, the smell isn’t completely different or anything, but I do notice some slight alterations.

It also isn’t quite as much of a performer, but very solid, especially at such a low price. I think most of the talk of changes is overblown. Cool Water is a value play for the right type of man.

Cool Water is a good overall fragrance, that is versatile, and actually smells like something a man would enjoy wearing. I personally enjoy the cooling aspects of the aroma and its later aquatic nature.

I’m not a giant fan of soapy sort of scents, but Cool Water does it well. The greenish tobacco note, is also a highlight to me. Not always in the mood for it, but it can be quite attractive.

Is it the best fragrance? No, but it’s simple, and an easy starter or everyday wear for a guy. You don’t stick around for 30+ years by being completely awful. This is an easy to wear cologne, with some great positives, and a pedigree to back it up.

To me, Cool Water is something that I could use sparingly. I don’t want it as a daily wear, but coming back to it once in a while delivers some nostalgic enjoyment.

Oajan by Parfums De Marly

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Still working my way through the long list of fragrances by Parfums de Marly. Today, I have another very popular fragrance from the lineup, Oajan. How does this one stack up? What does it smell like? How does Oajan perform? Please continue below for my full review of this Parfums de Marly cologne.

Reviewing Oajan: What does it Smell Like?

Notes include: tonka bean, cinnamon, honey, vanilla, benzoin, musk, labdanum, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Parfums de Marly Oajan EDP Spray, 4.2 oz.

My Full Wear Review

Wow. The opening whiff of Oajan gives me a tri-blend of tonka bean, cinnamon, and benzoin. The benzoin note brings to mind, Kouros Body by YSL, and the cinnamon is an enhancement of the incense spice found in that cologne.

The aroma given off is one that is both very rich and fresh, with a dark sweetness. It really comes across as a unique scent in the opening. Spicy, fairly clean, with a balsamic aroma.

The real standout is the osmanthus note which gives this one its sweetness. Fruity sweet, but still with that darker masculine edge. It’s the same note that gives Flowerbomb its opening burst.

After 5 minutes or so, is when I really start to notice the honey note and its accompaniment by the vanilla. It is a smooth and somewhat thick creaminess, that pairs so damn well with the cinnamon.

The spice is there, but it takes a backseat to the sweeter notes. Honestly, the entire profile of the scent reminds me a lot of 1 Million Prive. The cinnamon fades as you get deeper into the wear, but it does hang around throughout.

Oajan has this sort of apple cinnamon aroma to it just like the Paco Rabanne scent. It’s quite straightforward but very intriguing. The sweetness just comes from the honey, osmanthus, tonka, and vanilla rather than any apple.

Nonetheless, it is different from Prive, with less sweetness and more of a warmer impression with benzoin tones. It also gets quite dark with a deeper richness, than the Paco Rabanne fragrance. Great resinous finish.

The amber and labdanum are in control towards the end. The fuzziness of benzoin has calmed, the osmanthus is gone, and you get a mix of vanilla and tonka bean in support.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection wise, Oajan is pretty heavy stuff. You’ll only need a few sprays to do a proper job, but it does calm down a bit roughly 30 mins in. You get your money’s worth with the sillage.

Update: I bought a full bottle of this at the end of 2022. The next few hours are pretty moderate and don’t have nearly the same reach as that bold start. It doesn’t seem to pack exactly the same punch over the duration, so I’ve adjust my ratings below to reflect this.

It also has the type of all day longevity that you want from a cologne. It never quits on my skin. You’re looking at a solid 10+ hour wear, in most circumstances, and Oajan can hit that 12+ hour mark too.

Update:  I no longer get 12 hours with Oajan on skin. Clothes, sure. Now on skin, it is in the 9-ish hour range. Still good performance, just doesn’t have that same elite level, sadly.

Seasonally, this would be best in the winter or fall months. I’ve worn it on cooler nights, here in the summer, but it’d be a mess in the heat. Coming back to this in the winter, and I can say, it is amazing in the cold. Oajan just works perfectly when contrasting with the crisp evening air.

I really like the versatility of Oajan. You can wear it casually, dressed up, or to a night at the bar. It is very attractive and sexy. Women seem to enjoy it. Sure, it is limited to certain climates and temperatures, but it can be worn in a wide variety of situations.

Overall Impressions of Oajan

Overall, would I recommend Oajan? Yes, I think that it is a fantastic scent. It seems the at 1 Million Prive took a page out Oajan’s book and blended it with the original 1 Million.

This scent by Parfums de Marly, is one that I could see myself wearing in the future, and I think it’d be fantastic on a colder evening.

The dark benzoin aroma the permeates this scent, is a great play against, the thick sweetness of honey, and the nice refreshing kick of cinnamon. The performance is outstanding and the fragrance is unique enough to be worthwhile as a signature cologne.

Update: I do love wearing this even more. Now, I’ve downgraded the sillage and longevity ratings to reflect the differences between my full batch and that sample batch from years back. However, I increased the scoring of the aroma category, as my esteem for the scent itself has only gotten stronger.

This is one of my favrorite PdM fragrances and one of the cinnamon based colognes that I love to wear in the cold weather.

Halloween Man by Jesus del Pozo

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Halloween Man by Jesus del Pozo is often the answer for those who are looking for a fragrance that smells like 1 Million. There are tons of smell alikes and knock-offs floating around, of varying degrees of competence. Does Halloween Man stand on its own? How does it perform? How does it smell? Is it worth a try?

What does Halloween Man Smell Like?

Notes include: cinnamon, cumin, ginger, lavender, mandarin, apple martini, vanilla, leather, violet leaf and more

Click here to try: J. Del Pozo Halloween Man Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

As soon as I smell Halloween, I immediately get the reminder of 1 Million. There is a reason, that this one is considered a close enough and cheaper dupe of the Paco Rabanne fragrance. They aren’t exactly the same, just a familiar rendition.

Halloween Man starts off with its citrus, violet leaf, and array of spices. Also, the apple martini note which adds a very slight boozy factor here. Actually, the opening is where some people are put off by this cologne.

The violet leaf and spices can come across as somewhat dirty and odorous. Mainly, its the cumin and violet leaf giving off this impression. It does settle down, but I can see why folks may not like it.

It can be bothersome to me, also. Cumin isn’t my favorite spice and violet leaf gets on my nerves too.

Personally, I prefer 1 Million’s start to this. There’s more citrus in that one, at the beginning. Luckily, Halloween Man gets better than a fairly tepid start.

So, initially the cumin and basil are more prevalent. Then, cinnamon becomes more of a factor. As it moves along, Halloween man shifts to a softer and smoother aroma. It has leather, but not to the same extent as 1 Million.

Lavender, amber, vanilla, and some leather. That’s what Halloween Man moves toward when it dries down. Still warm and spicy, but with a greater smoothness and sweetness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it starts off as a stronger moderate scent, but ends rather moderate. For the price range, it performs quite well on my skin. Not extreme, but still respectable. The projection will range within 6 feet or so.

That first hour is great at this price point. Of course, that’s when I like it the least. However, if you dig the smell, you get a pretty bold experience.

Longevity seems to hit the 6.5-8 hours for me. Old bottles of 1 Million were super strong and would go double digit hours. Newer bottles are much more in line with Halloween, which can make this a better value than it had been before.

This one had the tendency to hit that 8 hour mark most of the time, during testing. There were a couple of times when it simply quit after that 6.5 hour range.

Seasonally, stick to the autumn and winter months. I wouldn’t want this on in the heat, it’d be oppressive. Cold to moderate temperatures without a lot of humidity. That opening spice, even with the lighter fresh notes aren’t great when warm. Cumin, mainly.

Halloween Man skews toward younger men. It’s more of a casual or nightlife fragrance. Probably not one you’d want to wear to work or in a formal situation.

Overall Impressions of Halloween Man

Do I like this fragrance? Yes, to some extent. I was always a fan of 1 Million, so, it makes sense that this has some appeal.

I would still rather wear 1 Million, everything else being equal. Even with the downgrades to the performance of 1 Million, it still smells better than this. However, if price is a huge factor, this one could do a nice job as a replacement.

The cumin and violet leaf with apple martini is interesting. Ultimately, I don’t think the combination up top works all that well.

The opening isn’t all that appealing, but the dry down can come together well. The performance is solid, in my testing of this cologne, and it’s an affordable wear. Overall, it’s not a must have scent, but it can definitely play a role for someone who wants a cheaper alternative to 1 Million.