Cologne Reviews

Desire by Alfred Dunhill

by

Desire by Alfred Dunhill enjoyed plenty of popularity after its release in 1997. That popularity has waned some since then, however, that doesn’t mean that it has suddenly become a bad scent. This is a rather unique cologne for men, which will fill a certain niche in a man’s inventory of scents or become a daily wear for a certain type of guy.

In this post, I want to explore my thoughts about Desire, after wearing it around for a few days in the past week and whether or not I would recommend it.

What does Dunhill Desire Smell Like?

FullSizeRender (38)

Notes include: rose, vanilla, apple, bergamot, orange blossom, lemon, teak wood, musk, and patchouli

Click here to try: Desire By Alfred Dunhill For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

My Full Wear Review

The immediate opening of Desire strikes me as a unisex fragrance bordering on a women’s perfume. The fruit and rose notes are immediately detectable and have a delicious quality to them. It is bright and dynamic when first applied, with an underpinning of the musk and more woodsy notes.

Along with the rose, I get orange blossom, as an additional floral note. The floral presence is moderate, but definitely not overwhelming. In the opening act, you get apple as the main note, with a grab bag of citrus aromas coming in. Again, pretty unisex, at this point in time.

Desire, as its name suggests, is a cologne which is set up to be seductive and bring women closer to you. I definitely get that kind of vibe from this scent, it has a unique and attractive profile, that should perform well on nights out on the town.

There is a exotic/oriental type of spice which develops after a few minutes of wear. I think it is the combination of vanilla and musk which provides this light spiciness.

After about an hour, the fruit notes begin to lose some of their potency and Desire evolves into a more woodsy and oriental type of fragrance. It is still sweet, but you get more of the teak wood and musky base.

In the end, I am left with rose, vanilla, musk, wood, and some lingering sweetness from the fruit notes. It’s nice with a warm sweet/spice blend, quite attractive overall.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection also seems to die down after a while, the cologne is still detectable but it’s definitely not as loud as it was during the opening phase. Strong opening sillage, then, much more moderate.

I don’t don’t find this cologne to be super long-lasting, but it seems to perform rather, well throughout the day. You’ll get around 7 hours, out of it. That seems to be the consistent result, from my testing. Though, I wouldn’t put it at the top of the list of longevity.

For this price range, it’s really more than what you get with other comparable fragrances. No real complaints because Desire is still is above average in sillage and longevity.

Desire for Men is a pretty versatile scent. It has a pleasant enough aroma to be mass pleasing, yet, it is unique enough to stand out from the crowd. It can be worn in almost any season, though I would avoid the hottest days of summer.

The citrus allows it to venture into the warmer weather, but it won’t perform near it’s peak when it’s blistering outside.

It is safe enough for daily office wear, if needed. It can also venture into the nightlife. I would probably reserve it for casual wear or other social events, but it does have the ability for other purposes.

One further thing to mention is this does have a unique vibe. Even back in the late 90s this one was pretty different. Now? It’s miles away from most designer offerings. There aren’t too many men wearing Dunhill Desire and it’s formula is just distinct.

Overall Impressions of Desire

Overall, I would say that Desire is worth a try. It might not fit every guy’s style but I think it will be appreciated by many and is appealing enough to attract the ladies.

The fruity rose part, does have a unisex if not a women’s level of sweetness and style. But, that musk and vanilla dry down is better for most guys. When it becomes woodier, less sweet, and more balanced overall.

It has grown in appeal, because you can pick up bottles of this stuff for under $30 nowadays, which makes it a bargain. Even updating here in 2023, it’s still around for the same price.

It smells good and provides solid performance. This would never become a signature scent for me, as I’m not that big on rose as a note in this, but it is something that I wouldn’t mind wearing some more. Desire is a good cologne, that has the potential to be great, for the right guy.

Sauvage Parfum by Christian Dior

by

So, a new Sauvage fragrance has been released. It will of course be talked about a lot and probably end up a best seller. Naturally, I had to start testing it out, in order to write up a review and determine if this juice is worth a shot. What does Parfum smell like? How long does it last? When should it be worn? Was even worth Dior releasing it?

What Does Sauvage Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, bergamot, cedar, sandalwood, vanilla, tonka bean, ambroxan

Click here to try: Dior Sauvage Parfum Spray for Men 3.4 Ounces

My Full Review

Before we get into my personal review, let’s see what Dior has to say about Sauvage Parfum: A new, highly concentrated interpretation of Sauvage, melding extreme freshness with warm oriental tones and wild beauty that comes to life on the skin. The fragrance is a new frontier: an interpretation with a rich, heady trail that celebrates the magic of wide-open spaces.

Sauvage Parfum opens up with its citrus top notes. We have the familiar bergamot, found in the rest of the Sauvage lineup, and mandarin orange. The mandarin adds a nice touch of juiciness, but this opening isn’t as sharp as, the original EDT Sauvage.

It’s interesting, that the mandarin note, is the citrus that hangs around the longest for me. It stays a surprisingly long time during the wear.

One thing that is immediately noticeable about Parfum, is that, the ambroxan here is tempered. The EDP had a strong ambroxan, as did the original, so this will be an option for guys who want something calmer. It’s a really smooth scent, without the same periods of in your face intensity, as the others.

The next layer that hits me, is the sandalwood led middle, with vanilla and tonka bean coming through. Parfum doesn’t have that pepper spiciness, but it does have a warm and creamy quality, that the EDP has elements of.

Parfum begins to feel a bit dry, smoky, and the amber come through more.

The final dry down, Parfum is a dark and somewhat sweet, woody cologne. The cedar and sandalwood, are covered by a smoked vanilla with a hint of mandarin juice, and dipped in ambroxan.

Refined and smooth with a dry freshness, Parfum has just the right amount of light spice, and sweetness.

Sillage and Longevity

Perhaps, it is because this isn’t as sharp, but it can feel as if Parfum isn’t projecting as much as it actually is. The sillage is strong, but not monstrous, and the latter stages are pretty moderate.

It’ll probably reach about 6 feet for much of the time, away from the wearer. I’ve put on 5-6 sprays and it didn’t seem to be a problem. Early on, it’ll have more of an impact. Overall, it’s well above average and will give you a very nice scent trail.

The longevity is really good, it’ll go for over 10 hours, on my skin. Better than EDT and about the same as the EDP version. Definitely not one that disappoints in its performance.

Even if you’re not a fan of the Sauvage line, you still get your money’s worth, in terms of how long it will stick around.

Versatility

Parfum is a more refined version of this namesake, as such, it can be worn on many occasions. I actually like it best, for nighttime. It has a dark and a more mature vibe.

However, it wouldn’t be a problem, formally or in an office environment. Just don’t go crazy with the sprays.

Seasonally, it’s good year round, outside of the summer. Actually, summer nights, it’d be okay but avoid the daytime. It will be at its best in cooler temperatures, though.

This is another strength of the Sauvage line, you get plenty of opportunity to wear it, rather than just being restricted to colder weather.

Overall 

Do I like Sauvage Parfum? I do. I still prefer the EDP, to this, but I think it exceeds the EDT. Parfum is a gentler formulation, so, guys who didn’t like the intense/sharpness of various ingredients in the other versions; should enjoy this one.

Actually, now that Elixir has come out too, I’d go with that or EDP over Parfum. If you want a more traditional interpretation of this formula, go with EDP. If you want the bold spiciness, Elixir can fit that bill.

The performance is great, I like the development of the scent, and its dark richness. The vanilla, mandarin, and the ambroxan doesn’t feel as oppressive (which is a downside for me, with the original).

You are paying Dior prices, but the value it still there with its use case and longevity. Dior Sauvage ‘clones’ (or at least attempted) have been popping up for years with the EDT version, and might make you reconsider that original. But, that’s less of a case with this Parfum edition.

If you like the EDP, I don’t really see why you’d need this, but give it a try. You might find this to be a more enjoyable version.

Sauvage Parfum is interesting yet familiar, but not completely redundant. It could be the version of Sauvage some folks need, to actually enjoy this title.

Gentlemen Only Intense by Givenchy

by

I have already reviewed many scents this week, including Gentlemen Only. Since I’ve also got a mini size of Gentlemen Only Intense, I thought that I’d go ahead and do a review post on it.

This is another cologne from Givenchy and one which is masculine and suited toward the cooler months of the year. How does it stack up? Is it better than the original? Please read below for my full take on this scent.

What Does Gentlemen Only Intense Smell Like?

gentlemen only intense

Notes include: tonka bean, birch wood, mandarin, patchouli, leather, amber, and cedar

Click Here to Try:Givenchy Gentlemen Only Intense Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

OK, so after trying the original Gentlemen Only and enjoying it, (only to later be disappointed by its longevity), I was looking forward to trying the Intense version of this cologne. As it turns out, I actually like this one much better.

Let me state beforehand that I love sweet/spicy/leathery fragrances in the fall or winter months. I am a fan of tonka bean (Versace Eros), leather even in something like Dirty English, and the sweet/spicy incense of something like Body Kouros. As such, I was drawn to this fragrance right off the bat.

The opening is a sweet blend of tonka bean, amber, and the leather note. This is an interesting departure from the original which featured more of the birch wood, mandarin, and vetiver, which are downplayed a great deal in Intense.

The opening has a bit more fresh spiciness, than this one will later feature. You get some of the mandarin, mint, and pink pepper.

The composition is pretty inverted from the original. As such, you are hit with a different sensibility and less of the dry sweetness than Gentlemen Only.

Intense presents itself as much more of a sweet/incense take on the original, that at times seems somewhat gourmand without going overboard (like in Very Irresistible by Givenchy)  but keeping an underlying smokiness.

Again, this one might not be for everyone but if you enjoy that kind of sweet/leathery/masculine type of scent this could be a good look. The dry down becomes a woody, sweet, leathery, creamy/amber-laden affair.

It has that Gentlemen Only dryness, spice, and smokiness but those are relegated to bit players. It all comes together, as being super smooth. I really enjoy the way that it smells, even if the development isn’t too complex.

Sillage and Longevity

Projection wise, it is pretty good. It’s not a beast but it is better than Gentlemen Only, though, I believe Intense is a misnomer…it’s not intense but quite moderate. Even with that spiciness. It’ll project itself 4-6 feet from the skin for a while, before settling back down, closer to the skin.

Longevity was the drawback of the original and honestly, Intense isn’t much better in this regard. 4-5 hours of life at most. The only saving grace is that I feel that this is a nighttime fragrance and so that longevity might be enough in that situation.

However, it really should be better than that and I’m disappointed that it isn’t. Shouldn’t an ‘intense’ fragrance, have a strong sillage, and staying power?

I think others have gotten a slightly better result with this one. For me, it refuses to stick around for very long on my skin, which is usually fine with not ‘eating up’ colognes.

When Should Gentlemen Only Intense be Worn?

Again, to me, this is a nighttime fragrance. The original was more of the office type of daily wear, while this one is a sexier evening wear option. On a cold evening, Intense is actually really awesome, and will get complemented.

Well, at least for those first few hours. It is a mature fragrance and will generally be a better fit for those in their late 20s and up.

Overall Impressions

Overall, is it worth a buy? Maybe. It smells really good, in my opinion, but the longevity questions remain. The fragrance itself is an awesome blend of sweetness, woods, leather, and spice. On that end of things, Gentlemen Only Intense is pretty brilliant.

It’s not an all-time great or anything, but this had the potential of being a under the radar favorite. The tonka bean and leather combination is so good here.

It’s one that I could definitely find a place for on occasion, but, at the price I could get something else that is a much better performer. It’s not a bad fragrance, actually quite good, but it could be magnificent.

Updating this post, a few years after the initial review, I think that it’s been discontinued.

I still have a mini bottle of this, wear it occasionally, and still cannot believe what a missed opportunity this was for greatness. You might be able to pick up a cheap bottle, at the discount sites now, and it would be worth a shot.

Newer Update: I just saw it going for around $100 when I looked it up, which is a bit of a stretch in my opinion. So, you’ve probably missed out on getting this one for anything reasonable.

Weekend for Men by Burberry

by

Burberry is a line which usually sports very good and universally appealing fragrances at a moderate price point. I have already gone over the best Burberry colognes here, and I left Weekend for Men, off of that list.

I don’t remember being impressed by it, however, when I received a mini bottle of this cologne, I thought that I would give it another shot and post a review. Did it change my mind, this time around? Read below for more.

What Does Burberry Weekend Smell Like?

FullSizeRender (50)

Notes include: tangerine, citrus, musk, rose, iris, sandalwood, oakmoss, ivy, honey

Click here to try: BURBERRY Weekend Eau De Toilette for Men, 1.7 Fl. oz.

My Full Wear Review

Burberry Weekend, opens with a lot of citrus, and it sticks around for the duration of the wear. I get a ton of lemon, in this one, and some bergamot underneath. The other fruits, just seem to blend together, with one another and create a generic cloud.

After like 15-20 minutes some of the oakmoss and sandalwood type of notes, do start to emerge. This gives Weekend, a bit of an earthy/woody body, but this is mostly a citrusy affair. Ivy is fairly noticeable, which provides a grassy sort of smell, it’s not super powerful but you can pick up on it.

To me, Burberry Weekend really doesn’t ever get anymore complex than that, just a blend of citrus and some woodsy notes in the background. On my skin, it is mostly lemon with some ivy, sandalwood, and a bit of dry oakmoss. It’s extremely linear on me.

I suppose there is some honeyed sweetness, in there, but not very much. If you’re not into the smell within 10-15 minutes, you probably won’t ever be.

How Long does it Last? What’s the Sillage Like?

It’s projection and longevity are both moderate. It’s not a beast with its sillage, but it at least, isn’t completely weak. It’s projection is a few feet from the skin, for most of the wear, so don’t expect folks to be able to smell you from across the room or anything.

The longevity clocks in at about six hours or so. Again, not impressive, but passable at the right price.

Versatility

This is a casual wear for the spring/summer months, all the way. It would seem out of place, during the rest of the year. It’s not a nighttime beast, nor a formal type of fragrance.

Weekend for Men is a scent you can throw on, when the temperature goes up, and smell fresh and citrusy.

A cologne to feel clean and somewhat refreshed, not a scent that’s going to bet getting massive complements or be seen as ‘sexy’.

Overall Scent

This is a very short review because quite frankly, Weekend isn’t all that impressive. If you’re a big fan of citrus, then maybe it’s worth getting a hold of.

Otherwise, I really don’t get who this is aimed at. I think that it smells okay but the citrus is just too prevalent and the other notes never seem to fully wrestle control away from it.

As a result, it can take on too much of a bathroom cleaner type of scent…it’s not totally chemical but you can definitely detect a resemblance. Is it an awful cologne? No, but it isn’t a very good one.

Even for this type of summer-centric release, it’s not very good. Below the D&G Light Blue flankers and other designer efforts in the same space.

There are much better options, from the line of Burberry scents (see: London and Burberry for Men), and other ones that are much better choices for summer weather (Burberry Summer line, usually smell better at least, with poor performance). I’ll probably pass on wearing the rest of this mini bottle.

Update: Yeah, I never finished it before getting rid of this mini. This still floats around for cheap, so, it might be worth spending $20-30 on. I still wouldn’t personally, but if you wanted an easy to wear summer citrus, this is passable.

Luna Rossa Black by Prada

by

I am a pretty big fan of Prada’s men’s fragrances. In particular, I like the Luna Rossa line, as I find them to all be at least solid. Not one of them is a bad cologne. As such, I wanted to give Luna Rossa Black a try, and see if it held up the name’s tradition. How does it smell? When should it be worn? How does it perform? Please continue below, for my full take on this scent.

What Does Luna Rossa Black Smell Like?

Notes include: patchouli, amber, angelica, tonka bean, musk, bergamot

Click here to try: Prada Luna Rossa Black for Men Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

My initial impression of Luna Rossa Black, wasn’t all that positive. It wasn’t a bad scent, I just wasn’t that taken, with how it started out. This is going to be another single wear review, as I tried this in the store, but it was a surprisingly long encounter with this scent. Oh and it got much better, as it moved along.

The opening consists of a light bergamot note, some patchouli, amber, and angelica. I’m not sure what has me feeling so lukewarm, about Black in the beginning, but I think its just the patchouli mixing weird with one of the other notes.

It’s got a warm, semi-powdery aroma, that has a burnt sort of aroma. To my nose, it’s just not great.

Nonetheless, I kept this Prada cologne on my skin, and gradually came around to it. I actually really enjoy the dry down, on this one. The amber and tonka bean, really begin to ramp up. It’s got a sweet, smooth, and still retains that powdery scent. That Prada amber note, is fantastic, as usual with this brand.

Black does have a ‘dark’ sort of smell to it. The musk note comes in, and the patchouli falls back, to a much better role. It gives it that underlying earthy aroma, but doesn’t interfere with the great amber/tonka bean show up top. It becomes super smooth, a bit sweet, with a not too heavy feeling scent.

How’s the Sillage? How Long Does it Last?

I really wasn’t sure how long to expect this fragrance to go. To be honest, I sort of just sprayed myself with it three times at the store, and kind of forgot about it. However, this one projects itself quite well. It’s not a monster, but the sillage is very solid.

What really shocked me, was how long this one went for. Keep in mind, it is summer, I went outside multiple times with this on. 9-10 hours later, I could still smell it.

Update: Coming back to this one years later, in the wintertime, and this one works so much better with how it smells and it still hits that double digit hour mark fairly easily. So, I’ve bumped up the score a bit below.

I had to take a shower, but it could have kept going. My skin is pretty good at not eating up colognes, but the longevity was on point with Black.

Versatility

While I do think that Luna Rossa Black is more appropriate for the colder weather. It honestly, held up pretty well in the heat. It wasn’t perfect, as some of the notes did degrade a bit, but still did a good job.

I’d say it’s much more of an option during the autumn through early spring. It has a professional and refined sort of smell, but has a sexy edge, that can take it into nighttime wear.

Overall Scent

I wasn’t too thrilled with Luna Rossa Black at first, but it won me over. It is a great addition to the Luna Rossa line, still not my favorite, though I did enjoy wearing it.

To me, after the first hour, is when this one is at its absolute best. I love tonka bean and amber, so this was a really nice experience. That first hour, is mid-tier.

Am I blown away by it? No, though, I give it fairly high marks across the board. It’s nothing groundbreaking, it just lasts a long time, and has an attractive scent. That’s most of what we require from our fragrances and Black delivers.

It’s one of the better editions. I like the original Luna Rossa and Sport a bit more than this. Yet, this also seems to be a favorite of a lot of people. Try this one out, it’s a designer scent that does everything well.