Cologne Reviews

Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters by Dua Brand

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Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters was a Dua Brand scent that I was really excited to get a hold of. I bought it earlier in the year and wore it during the summer, completely forgetting to do a full review for the site. How does this one smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters Smell Like?

Notes include: Bergamot, Lime, Mandarin Orange, Coconut, Sugar Cane, Ambergris, White Rum, and Sicilian Orange

Click here to try: Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters

My Full Review

Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters is a blend of Dua’s inspired versions of Louis Vuitton’s Afternoon Swim and Virgin Island Water by Creed. So, how good this one will be really came down to how the did the blend exactly.

The opening here is a citrus explosion with a very tropical vibe. Orange, lime, and coconut truly stand out. Early on, this leans heavily towards the Louis Vuitton scent, much of what you get from the Creed is restricted to the rum, coconut, and ambergris.

It’s got that pina colada vibe, sugary highlights, but I love that they favored Afternoon Swim in use of its fruits. I’m not a huge fan of VIW, but Dua captured the best of that fragrance, and added it to the Louis scent (which I really liked).

As we dry down, the fruit notes get less pronounced. Some of them are still around for the duration, but it becomes more about the coconut and amber here. Fresh, boozy, and has somewhat of a lotion vibe…just not overwhelmingly so.

This is a pretty simple fragrance, not too much development.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters starts off strong. Especially for a summertime casual scent, this one really jumps off of my skin. For the first hour or two, you will get really good sillage, leaving a trail behind you.

Then, it is much more moderate, but still highly noticeable.

The longevity here is great. For me, it easily sticks around for 10 hours, even during the height of summer. Now, it obviously doesn’t have the same sillage throughout, but it does keep chugging along. I can even get it above 12 hours.

Seasonally, obviously summertime. Spring, if it is warm out. This stuff shines in the hot weather and is great to wear along the beach or wherever.

This is a true unisex fragrance. A lot of tropical fruit scents can get way too girly, but this is true to its inspirations and holds that line perfectly. Anyone can wear this, no problem.

But, it’s not the most versatile wear. This is a casual scent. Limited to the warmer parts of the year. Favors the daytime, but I could easily wear this to a beachside bar at night, while on vacation. Really, that’s what this perfume is, a lovely vacation fragrance.

Or, if you happen to live in a tropical region, and like to be outside a lot.

Overall Impressions of Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Absolutely. This is a fantastic blend, that I wore throughout the summertime, and will continue to make my way through the entire bottle.

It is an accurate representation of the great fruity blend of Afternoon Swim and the boozy coconut found in VIW. I’ve never been a massive fan of the Creed scent, but when paired with a clone of the Louis Vuitton fragrance, it becomes great.

But, beyond just being a great inspiration of each of those scents, the performance is way better and at a steep discount to either of the originals which inspired it.

If you like either of those fragrances, this is one to try. Or if you want a tropical beach fragrance, that is safe for men or women, this is totally one to try out.

Tuxedo by YSL

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Tuxedo is a 2014 release from Yves Saint Laurent, as a part of their higher end Le Vestiaire des Parfums line. This has become one of the, if not the most popular perfume to come out of that line of scents, but how does it actually smell? Does it last a long time? Is Tuxedo worth the hype?

What does Tuxedo Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, amber, patchouli, cardamom, black pepper, vanilla, and more

Click here to try: Tuxedo by YSL

My Full Review

Here’s how YSL describes it: A spicy unisex scent that blends the matte texture of smoked patchouli with ambergris accord to express a magnetic and dark sex appeal. The sharp black pepper enhanced with the freshness of cardamom mirrors the satin stripe that runs along the seam of the trousers and the lapels of the jacket.

While the opening of Tuxedo does indeed have the spice that YSL refers to in their description, it really serves to establish how absolutely smooth and refined this fragrance is.

The black pepper is there, gives this one a bit of an edge, but never truly punches you in the face with its presence. Between that and the cardamom, the spices help to create a separation that might otherwise leave this one feeling like a sea of amber on your skin.

Aside from the prominent pepper, there’s a green/watery aroma provided by the violet leaf and patchouli. Along with a general balsamic feeling, perhaps a little smoke too. The former (thankfully, for me at least) isn’t too large a factor here. But, the patchouli will take on a larger role moving forward.

It’s all very fresh and smooth. Beyond the immediate opening, the spiciness will subside somewhat, as will that violet leaf. At this stage, the rose and vanilla notes will come into play. Though, the amber and patchouli are going to be the stars with Tuxedo, so don’t expect a fragrance like Toy Boy, which goes super rosy.

That being said, there is a surprising amount of rose in this one, when I spray it on my skin during the first hour or two.

Once Tuxedo hits its dry down phase, it’s a pretty straightforward scent. Patchouli, amber, and vanilla. All of the other notes combine for an amalgam of fresh undertones. It’s warm and light, but also sweet, with these ever so slight aquatic touches.

Seasonally, just skip the summer months and you should be fine. Autumn through spring, should work just fine in most climates. High heat and humidity, not so much.

With a name like Tuxedo, is this a formal wear fragrance? Yes, it is. That being the case, I think that it still works in a wide variety of situations, beyond elegant events.

It’s office safe, it can be worn out at night even in more casual settings, for dates, etc. It’s never too serious or oppressive feeling, to wear it couldn’t work in many scenarios. Tuxedo could absolutely be a signature fragrance for some.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Tuxedo can be a tricky one to pin down how strong it is. I’ve noticed this with a lot of amber and vanilla dominant blends, that you can tend to go nose blind to it.

Now the sillage, with normal sprays is towards the lighter end of things. It does create a nice scent trail, though, and will be noticed. Just after a while, it might not be noticed by you. It can seem like a skin scent after two hours or you might not pick it up at all.

However, Tuxedo is still there doing its thing. That happened a bunch while testing this one again. I would forget that I’m wearing it and then caught a whiff hours later.

It sticks around, but can be elusive. For some people, that seems to be an issue. Not so much for me. I would say it hits the 6-8 hour range of actual longevity. Not amazing, especially at the price point. Though, I’m not really upset by it either.

Overall Impressions of Tuxedo

Overall, do I like Tuxedo? I love the way that this fragrance smells. It’s been becoming more and more one of my personal favorites over the past year or so. A lot of the YSL scents that I used to really enjoy, have gotten discontinued over time, but Tuxedo captures my attention completely.

The smoothness. The blend of spice, sweetness, and the hint of a watery finish. Tuxedo is so clean and refined, yet has a sexiness to it that attracts.

Sure, the performance can be elusive when compared to other scents. But, it is better than many give it credit for, while also not being completely elite in this regard.

I find this Saint Laurent perfume to be entirely wearable and not at all ‘stuffy’, despite its class and formal attire name.

To me, this is definitely full bottle worthy and a scent that people should for sure give a try.

Angels’ Share by Kilian

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Angels’ Share was released by Kilian in 2020. I bought a bunch of decanted samples from this brand, in order to finally give them full reviews, and this was among the lot. I hadn’t heard anything beforehand, so really had no expectations of this perfume in particular. So, how does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Angels’ Share Smell Like?

Notes include: cognac, tonka bean, oak wood, cinnamon, praline, vanilla, sandalwood

Click here to try: Angels’ Share at Sephora

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Kilian describes it: the perfume Angel’s Share is Kilian Hennessy’s most personal fragrance creation yet, inspired by his eighth-generation inheritance of Hennessy savoir-faire in cognac making. The perfume goes deep into the cellars of founder’s mind and memory, and into its most mysterious dimension: “la part des anges” or “angels’ share”— an evaporation of liquor in oak barrels that lifts, while aging, like a silent offering to the gods.

Wow. This is a gorgeous fragrance. Right away, I understand the comparisons between Angels’ Share and something like Oajan by PdM. Also, the base is the same smell as Nirvana Bourbon. Plus, it has a similar apple-like sweetness found in 1 Million Prive (I go more into this, at the end).

Putting aside its comparable scents for a second, Angels’ Share opens with an amazing blend of the cognac note, tonka bean, and oak. The opening really gives off an apple brandy sort of vibe, but with the oak of the barrel really coming through.

It’s interesting how much of that cognac takes on the apple aroma. Paired with the other notes it does get a delicious baked goods sort of scent.

Also, when compared with its Liquors companion Apple Brandy on the Rocks, Angels’ Share has more of an apple scent. Apple Brandy on the Rocks goes for more of a mix with the prevalent pineapple note. Which is one reason that scent was a disappointment for me.

Underneath that, is the cinnamon spice (which is never too heavy), and the praline/vanilla mixture adding to the delicious vibe that this By Kilian scent is putting out.

The sweetness does subside after the first hour. It’s still there, but it really resembles a warm syrupy fragrance. What really comes through, is the oak and some sandalwood.

It’s not that all the other notes fade, but they are behind the oak barrel soaked in cognac fragrance. This is what I get for the rest of the way.

So, the tail end is oak, sandalwood, cinnamon, and a sweet/syrupy booze aroma. Much less of that fruity infused booziness and a lot more of the woodiness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one is pretty moderate on my skin, the upper end of moderate. However, it does have pretty stable and decent projection throughout the wear. Just wear a bit on my wrist and I kept getting whiffs of this delightful smell, for a long time.

Angels’ Share isn’t going to choke out the room, but it will create a nice scent bubble around the wearer.

The longevity is great, just not the very elite level. It sticks around somewhere in the 9-11 hour range for me, depending on the day. Update: With a full bottle sprayer, this one actually goes over the 13 hour mark at times, it’s really the oak and vanilla notes but it’s still there.

angels review

This one just works extremely well on my skin and will hang around.

Seasonally, autumn and winter is the best time. Anything above a temperate climate is going to have poor results with Angels’ Share.

Update: Yep, this is an absolute killer when it’s cooler outside. The sweet warmth and spice of the cinnamon are absolutely amazing. I wore this last year for many winter activities like ice skating and received complements at the rink.

Within that limit, Angels’ Share is very versatile. It is a true unisex fragrance. In comparison to something like Oajan, I guess this does lean slightly feminine, but I’ve had no problems wearing it at all.

Probably not the best formal wear, but it’s fine in other circumstances, and can easily be a nightlife scent. Not a ‘club beast’, but it would absolutely work, in a more understated way.

I personally enjoy wearing it in the evening. It helps to create a chill atmosphere and it’s wonderful to catch that opening act in the crisp air, when stepping outside.

Overall Impressions of Angels’ Share

Do I like this fragrance? Absolutely. It’s actually kind of annoying, because I already have so many full bottles of perfumes that I want to buy for myself, and this just adds another expensive one to the list.

The opening act is utterly fantastic. I already had a great liking for this style of fragrance and this might be my favorite of the bunch. At least initially, I’ll update if my enjoyment of Angels’ Share subsides.

Update: I bought the full bottle, anyway. This has become one of my favorite fragrances ever. I had a high opinion of it, during the initial review and have become a bigger fan of this scent.

It has also become one of the most popular fragrances around it seems. I guess that’s thanks to a large social media influence. But, to me, it deserves all the accolades it gets.

While the dry down, isn’t as sweet and the woodiness isn’t my favorite aspect; this one does keep the opening aroma around in the background. As such, it remains a great wear because that oak note does seem like it has been covered by the cognac/apple brandy aroma.

This scent is awesome. I recommend giving it a try, if it sounds like it’d be your style, and you live in an appropriate climate…or just wear it inside.

What Fragrances Smell Like Angels’ Share?

Well, as I’ve already mentioned: Nirvana Bourbon by Elizabeth and James, 1 Million Prive by Paco Rabanne, and Oajan by Parfums de Marly.

None of these is an exact rendition of Angels’ Share, but each has somewhat similar aromas.

Nirvana Bourbon is like if you stripped this By Kilian fragrance down to the oak and vanilla notes. Then, layered the rest of it on top.

1 Million Prive and Oajan both have that sweet and spicy warmth. Prive has much more spiciness and isn’t nearly as refined. Plus, more resinous to my nose. But for the Paco Rabanne line, it’s probably the best they’ve ever done (if not, definitely top 3).

Oajan is a bit thicker, less sweet (still plenty sweet) and boozy. I do love that scent, but I’m for sure preferring Angels’ share, at the moment.

The latter two have the most in common in terms of the overall style of this perfume, even if they aren’t exactly the same. If you’re familiar with them, you’ll know approximately what to expect from this.

Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent

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Kouros is one of the most famous men’s fragrances of all-time. Released in 1981, it has been a topic of discussion, both positively and negatively ever since. It’s one that I’ve had familiarity with in the past, but never did a full review for the site. Recently, I grabbed a decant of one of the more modern batches in order to finally put something to record. How does it smell? Is it still super strong? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Kouros Smell Like?

Notes include: clove, coriander, ambergris, sage, artemisia, leather, cinnamon, jasmine, musk, moss, and more 

Click here to try: Kouros by YSL

My Full Review

Note: I am only reviewing the latest batch here. I don’t have a time machine or 40 year old bottle that’s still good handy, so, that’s what is being rated/described here.

So, Kouros was one of my earlier fragrance encounters, while trying out parts of the old YSL lineup 15+ years ago. This, Opium, and Kouros Body were among those that I tested out. The latter two, were the one’s that I ended up purchasing. I wore both for a long time.

I think to the less experienced me, Kouros came across as being too bold for me to really want to wear. However, I didn’t dislike the scent either, and it’s one that I’ve come across every few years since.

Nowadays, I doesn’t garner the same shocking reaction to it’s strength and uniqueness when compared to modern scents. I’ve gotten used to a lot of the colognes of decades pasts and the ingredients that don’t get much use any longer with the popular scents.

Plus, if it has indeed been modernized and reformulated, maybe it doesn’t pack the same punch as the 1981 version.

The opening spray of Kouros is fresh, dry, with a spicy kick. Aldehydes and musk, really come through to my nose. The aldehydes remind me quite a bit of Chanel No. 5. Same sort of cold brightness (maybe a touch of bergamot?). The musk gives this a rough fuzziness, which is enhanced by the spice notes.

I’m going to go with mostly coriander, sage, and patchouli for what I’m smelling. It’s pretty balanced and I’m not getting too much in the way of cinnamon. At this stage, it’s an earthy/musky aromatic sort of fragrance.

Maybe because they weren’t actually using civet for this newer era of batches, Kouros doesn’t really come across as being all that ‘dirty’.

Some earthiness, yes, but it’s more of the plants/leaves (geranium for a time, comes out) than the earth itself or any sort of animaliac influence. It’s a modern musk with some roughness to it.

A lot of the spice burns off pretty quickly. Whatever molecule they’re using to represent oakmoss nowadays, is what begins to come to the forefront. Kouros starts to smell cleaner, smoother, and with soapy touches.

After that spice has gone, you do get a good dose of artemisia. I smelled Luna Rossa Ocean again, a few days ago, and do pick up on their shared ingredients, including the artemisia.

The dryness remains throughout the wear, Kouros does however become sweeter and a tad more floral. Honey, carnation, and tonka bean. Still fresh with the aldehydes now combining with the moss and an emergent leather.

‘Urinal cakes’ is something that often gets used to describe what this smells like. It doesn’t. I think people have some associations with that due to the interplay of the musk, artemisia, and jasmine.  That clean fuzzy floral, probably triggers the association for some people, but it doesn’t actually ‘smell’ like a clean bathroom.

The final stages of Kouros is a slightly leather musky floral/herbal fragrance. There’s sweetness to it still, but it comes across as being very much a barbershop type of finish. Nothing too outlandish, but attractive and classic.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this still absolutely brings it, but it isn’t insane. I remember it having much more projection and ability to leave a scent trail. Nonetheless, it is still a powerful fragrance, just nothing extreme.

This modern formulation also has really good, just not totally elite staying power. 9-ish hours, on my skin, with an ability to just cross the ten hour mark at times.

Spectacular? Not really, but still better than a lot of stuff currently on the market.

Versatility wise, this one does have limitations. First of all, it can indeed be something folks either love or hate. I think the talk of it being hated, got extreme, and it’s really not going to cause poor reaction from others in most situations…if they even notice Kouros at all.

Seasonally, this YSL is awesome in the cooler weather. It’s above freezing right now in November, but walking outside brings Kouros to life and it hangs very well in the cold air. I would avoid wearing this in high heat and humidity, though.

It’s a solid business scent, casual, semi-formal, and even possibly date nights for some guys. It wouldn’t be out of place, as a romantic fragrance, as there is a certain sexiness with such a masculine fragrance.

Kouros definitely skews older, but isn’t ‘old mannish’. If you’re younger and want to try it, I’d probably not wear it to school or something like that. Just know that it’s going to be quite different from what almost any other guy is going to be wearing. Classic, but not anachronistic.

Overall Impressions of Kouros

Overall, do I like Kouros? Yes, I do still enjoy this one. It’s never been a total love for me and I don’t really understand the repulsion that others can have for it. Personally, I always liked Kouros Body more, as that was such a unique and awesome flanker.

Kouros is without a doubt a classic and an important men’s fragrance historically. Pierre Bourdon deserves plenty of credit for creating this one (his Live Jazz was also another banger, now lost to time).

The opening act is nice enough. The spices and aldehydes do their thing well, but I prefer the dry down, once you get some sweetness and leather involved. Neither ever truly overwhelms the muskiness, but I like what those notes bring to the table.

This is a cologne that still has plenty of life, solid performance, and isn’t just some museum piece that cannot be worn out. It’s not going to be for everyone, but Kouros will still get plenty of new fans, out of those willing to give it a try.

Coach Man Blue EDT

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Coach has come out with some pretty good fragrances releases for men over the past few years. None of them are amazing, but I tend to think that they’re all pretty good at least. As such, my expectations for Coach Blue weren’t too high when I got a hold of a sample sprayer recently. Does this 2020 cologne release exceed expectations? How long does it last? Is it worth a buy?

What does Coach Blue for Men Smell Like?

Notes include: absinthe, lime, cedar, pepper, and amber

Click here to try: Coach For Men Blue 3.3oz EDT Spray

My Full Review

Coach for Men opens up with a blend of lime and the absinthe note. The absinthe actually tones down the sharpness or juiciness of the lime, but I frankly don’t find the note all that interesting here. 

I’m not even much of a fan of 212 VIP Black, but that absinthe note was better used, in that fragrance. Here, it is meh, as the cologne smells like a fresh blue body wash. Not that it’s bad, but it’s pretty standard. 

That’s a common theme with this Coach fragrance.

There’s a bit of peppery spice up top too, but I really start to get a solid dose of amber. Lime, absinthe, and amber in the beginning.

Then, it will shift to being more amber and cedar with some lime leftover and just a trace of absinthe. That’s about the extent of this one’s development. 

I do like the aroma. Simple, not anything that wows, but attractive enough. It’s a fairly standard issue ‘modern blue’ sort of scent. It has aspects that feel unique, but this is well tread ground.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Coach Blue projects itself fairly well. To me, 3-5 feet away from where I sprayed it. I did this both on my skin and on a hoodie I had laying around. It’s moderate and not really going to blow out a room. 

On my skin, it lasted around 7 hours, give or take. Again, not a powerhouse, but quite solid and usable overall. I wasn’t disappointed by Blue’s performance.

Though, it’s about the same as you’re going to get with basically every other Coach fragrance. Nothing that’s ever going to perform extremely well, but it’ll do better than average. 

Seasonally, I’d like this one in spring or summer. Really, anytime you have at least moderate temperatures. It’s your typical blue style fragrance. Fresh, clean, with a citrus note. 

I’d also say that this will be for the younger guys. Think teens through maybe 25 years old. I think there are better options in this style of scent out there, so, it wouldn’t be my first pick. However, if a younger guy got a good deal, it wouldn’t be terrible.

Within that framework, it is a fairly versatile wear. Mainly a daily wear or casual blend, but it could venture into other potential scenarios.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Coach Blue

Do I like this one? Somewhat. It smells like a fairly typical blue, with enough of its own style, to set itself apart. Though, it’s definitely not an amazing release. It’s all very forgettable, but not unpleasant to wear when you have it on.

It’s fresh, blue, and like a more well put together body wash. Definitely getting an Old Spice Swagger vibe here…but definitely better and more of a quality aroma. I had a travel size of that body wash on a trip and the two are pretty similar in smell. 

It’s got good enough performance if you happen to like the aroma. I wouldn’t pay full price, but it’s all in all not a terrible fragrance, just okay. 

I like the lime note, the absinthe is disappointing, and the ambroxan is more of the same that’s already on the market.