Cologne Reviews

Sur La Route by Louis Vuitton

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Sur La Route is one of the better Louis Vuitton fragrances for men that the brand has released thus far. I got another sample of this scent, a few months back, in order to give it a full and proper review on the site. How does it smell? Does it last a long time? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Sur La Route Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, grass, cedar, Peruvian balsam, bergamot, musk, pepper, nutmeg, cardamom, and more

My Full Review

Here’s how LV describes it: A metaphor for each individual’s personal path: the journey is as important as the destination. One projects onto it dreams for the future; the past flashes before one’s eyes; energy is drawn from it with which to accomplish the wildest of dreams.

Sur La Route starts out with its citrus notes on full display, along side a potent grassy note, and some light spices.

This aspect of the scent actually reminds me of a higher quality Hilfiger Athletics, a scent that’s been discontinued for 20 years, but had the same bergamot, other citrus, grass, with some herbal spices.

This Louis Vuitton is super fresh from the start, early it is a green freshness, and then it will move into a citrus and cedar based freshness. The citrus is less pure juiciness and seems like some water that’s had added drops of bergamot/lemon into water.

Pepper and a light touch of nutmeg provide the spice here. It isn’t too heavy in the mix and will pretty quickly fade from being prominent or detectable.

The leather note here is going to become the strongest of the bunch, when the citrus lose some of their potency. However, it isn’t completely overwhelming or ever really veering towards being more of pure leather scent.

But, I will say, the middle act here presents as being quite unique. Leather, citrus, grass, cedar, and some Peruvian balsam. It has a super clean aroma, but exactly smelling like any other scent that I can think of.

The tail end of Sur La Route is about that leather and cedar combination. Less spice, but some patchouli with the remaining grass, let this keep some of its greenish smell. The citrus is still there, but doesn’t have the same strength.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

That opening sillage is a pretty bold punch. Not a ‘heavy’ sort of aroma, but it’s got plenty of projection and will leave a trail in your wake.

It might not be one which you can smell from across the room for a long time, but it has that presence for a little while. After that, it’s above average and slowly descending into skin scent territory towards the back half of the wear.

The longevity here is slightly above average, but nothing extraordinary. On my skin, Sur La Route will last between 6-7 hours. It’s fine for most days, when I’d want to use it. Though, it is by no means a workhorse.

Seasonally, late spring and through the summer. Sur la Route is a warm weather fragrance to wear during the daytime.

It’s clean and well rounded. Not one for the nightlife or what would be considered ‘sexy’. It can go casual or more dressed up. Though, it isn’t super serious or stuffy. Clean and bright.

Overall Impressions of Sur La Route

Overall, do I like Sur La Route? I do. Again, it’s one of the best 6 or 7 men’s scents from the French designer thus far. It’s not at the top of that list, for me personally, but there is plenty to like here…and you get a unique fragrance.

The citrus and green grass opening can be quite sharp and intense. The freshness never truly goes away, but you do get some settling and Sur La Route moves into different phases.

The leather is a note which helps this LV have a bit more uniqueness, and coming from a leather goods company, that ingredient is really top notch.

Performance isn’t elite, but it gives you enough to where it isn’t a total disappointment. Sure, it could be better, it’s just also not terrible.

Is this worth buying? Sure, it may not be for everyone, however. I’d probably want to try it out first, to see if you like the grassiness or the leather notes, surrounded by all that freshness.

XX Indigo by John Varvatos

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John Varvatos XX Indigo wasn’t a fragrance release that I had heard of. I just happen to get a sample of it, alongside a batch of others, some months back. It was released in 2021, apparently not to much fanfare. But, I wanted to give it a try, to see if it was perhaps a hidden gem. How long does it last? Does it smell nice? Is XX Indigo worth a try?

What does XX Indigo by John Varvatos Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, pink pepper, lemon, geranium, cardamom, Himalayan Poppy, vetiver, patchouli, musk

Click here to try: XX Indigo by John Varvatos

xx indigo review

My Full Review

Here’s how John Varvatos describes it:  This men’s cologne sets a fresh, confident tone for day and a sensuous signature after dark. Striking & intriguing, the royal blue packaging reflects independent, sleek style and luxury. This woody, masculine scent is uniquely captivating, just like the iconic fashion of the John Varvatos brand.

The opening of Indigo really hits you with its cold freshness. Mint and geranium together are going to do that, especially when they’re two of the main notes within a composition.

Lemon is there, but sitting underneath the aromatic notes, which includes another big shot in pink pepper and some light cardamom. Spicy, fresh, and somewhat green but not too woody or fruity with this scent. Though, some nice sweetness.

As it dries down, the spiciness will subside. Mint is still the lead throughout. But, geranium and cardamom really taper off.

In their place, patchouli and vetiver really step up. To me, the vetiver comes across more, than the patchouli. Feels like a blue-ish woodsy aroma. I know it’s Indigo, but this is a greenish-blue cologne.

So, in the end: mint, pink pepper, vetiver, musk, and patchouli.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it’s a lighter moderate. At first, this does have a nice amount of projection and ability to leave a scent trail. It reaches probably around 6-7 feet from where you sprayed it.

But, that’s short lived and it quickly descends into being a near skin scent to full on press your nose to the skin, for the rest of the way.

The longevity isn’t much better. I get just over 5 hours, maybe getting to six, if you were to spray heavy with a full bottle. Not atrocious, but certainly nothing to write home about.

Seasonally, you do get plenty of versatility here. I don’t know if I’d like the cool sensation on a winter’s day, but Indigo seems to work well from temperate to even hotter climates.

It’s also pretty non-offensive, giving you lots of opportunity to wear it. It’s office safe, not overly heavy, and can work just as well in a casual situation.

I’d skip out on the nightlife, as it doesn’t have that bold or sexy vibe. Outside of that, you can get good use out of this Varvatos scent.

Overall Impressions of XX Indigo

Overall, do I like XX Indigo? It’s not terrible, but not something that I particularly enjoyed. Varvatos has come out with better fragrances than this. Sure, a lot of them don’t last very long, but they are unique and attractive.

Indigo? Less so. I do like the colder aroma here. It’s very fresh, but not completely unique or interesting. I like the use of geranium and mint early, it’s dynamic and fairly enjoyable. After that, meh.

This actually reminds me of Nautica Voyage Heritage, in some ways. A better version for sure, different towards the end (more of that ‘blue’ aroma), but they each have a style that should have been more interesting than it actually is.

The performance is about the usual, with this line. Basic. It might stick around for just over 5 hours, but the projection just really isn’t there beyond the first hour or so. Initially, it does have a nice pop to it.

Frankly, I don’t see a reason to own this. With a heavy discount, maybe. Assuming this is your style…even then, it’s a pretty boring cologne.

Baccarat Rouge 540 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian

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Baccarat Rouge 540 is a fragrance that has catapulted to insane levels of fame, probably thanks to social media. Some think it’s the best thing they’ve encountered, others think it is entirely overrated and terrible. Me, I don’t entirely fall into either camp. But, I have tested out samples of this perfume to see what it is really all about. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Baccarat Rouge 540 EDP?

Notes include: saffron, hedione, cedar, ambroxan, fir resin

Click Here to try: BR 540 at Saks

baccarat 540 review

My Full Review

Here’s how Maison Kurkdjian describes it: The woody scent releases a poetic alchemy, a highly condensed and graphic olfactory signature. Breezy jasmine facets, radiant saffron boost the ambergris mineral notes and the woody tones of freshly-cut cedar. Bright and sleek, Baccarat Rouge 540 eau de parfum caresses the skin like an amber and woody floral whisper.

BR 540 starts off with its saffron and jasmine notes up top. The hedione (jasmine) actually has a bit of a lemony tinge to it. Clean, sweetish (maybe more bittersweet with the saffron?), with a very unique smelling mix of resin and woods.

There is a little spice here in the opening stage, nothing extreme, just a bit of a bite.

The ambroxan note, plays a pretty big role here. Amberwood, ambroxan, etc. Different names for basically the same chemical molecule.

This one does seem to have more of a mineral/metallic kind of smell than some of the others that I’ve come across, which again, is probably heightened by the saffron.

Once the hedione has settled down, this one starts to get more resinous and woody. It’s a very dry fragrance with a potent freshness to it, through the back half of the wear.

Yet, it does come across to me as being a ‘fluffy’ smelling perfume, rather than the usual woody fare. That’s one reason Baccarat Rouge so often gets compared to Cloud by Ariana Grande.

This is better, but that overlap is indeed present.

Towards the end, this mainly becomes a cedar and ambroxan mix on my skin. That cedar note, can feel pretty sharp, it’s probably my least favorite in this composition. The resinous quality is still there, probably a blend of the fir and a few amber-like ingredients in the mix.

The jasmine is basically gone and there isn’t much saffron left, for me at least.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

So, Baccarat Rouge isn’t a terribly heavy scent. As I said, it does have a cloud-like fluffiness to it.

But, the projection is actually well above average. It can be a difficult one to gauge really. Sometimes, I can spray it on clothing and pick it up across the room. Other times, I can go nose blind to it, on my own skin.

I’ve read others say that they literally cannot smell a thing, with Baccarat Rouge.

Honestly, I think that all of the varying reactions to what it smells like and just how powerful it is, probably explains a good deal of why this perfume is talked about so much…it’s hard to get an understanding of it.

I’d say err on the side of caution, if you’re going to be in a situation where spraying too much might cause a problem for those around you.

The longevity with this Kurkdjian scent, is really good. Though, I must say, it does fluctuate quite a bit. It’s never bad, the minimum is 8 hours. It can, however, go for up to 12 hours on my skin.

It does usually split the difference and leans more towards double digit hours of wear.

Seasonally, I like this mostly in the colder weather of autumn and winter. Not a super heavy scent, just not one that I’d reach for in late spring or the summer. If it’s not too hot where you live, you might be able to get more use out of it.

It does have great versatility. It can be worn by all ages, is unisex, and can be worn on a variety of occasions. It leans more feminine, so, I wouldn’t advise all guys to choose BR 540…but it isn’t super girly or anything either.

I don’t really think of it as a nightlife perfume or one that is all that ‘sexy’. Outside of that, it can generally fit in and does have an attractive quality.

Overall Impressions of Baccarat Rouge 540

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, I think that it’s very good. However, it has somehow become insanely popular and overhyped to a crazy level. The Extrait version is better, in my mind.

It can be a strange scent. As some people apparently get a band aid or even a ‘dentist’s office’ sort of aroma from this. I understand the comparisons, it just doesn’t fully come across that way on my skin.

Funny, others get cotton candy from this…I guess, maybe a little.

I enjoy the saffron in the opening, the jasmine, and the resinous qualities of the dry down. That amberwood note is something that I think turns a lot of people off with this, especially with the cedar freshness.

However, I actually think the amber facets work here, even with that synthetic style amberwood that they put in so many perfumes nowadays. Most of the time, it’s not great, but I don’t dislike the Baccarat 540 use of it.

It is a major factor in this perfume, so, you’re going to have to like it.

The performance here is good. To me, it’s not a super loud scent, but it can have a bit more projection than you actually think it does. The longevity is fantastic, so no issues there.

Is Baccarat Rouge 540, worth a blind buy? I’d lean towards no, due to the price. I’d highly recommend getting a hold of a sample or trying it out in a store before committing.

It is a popular fragrance, but there are plenty of people who are let down by their experience.

That’s an expensive mistake that you don’t need to make. There are now many alternatives which have come out for cheaper and perfumes similar to Baccarat Rouge 540.

Coromandel Les Exclusifs de Chanel

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Coromandel is a fragrance from Chanel that I’ve admired for quite while now. I’ve gone through a few samples of this scent over the years and recently grabbed another to finally give this perfume a full review on the site. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a buy?

What does Coromandel Smell Like?

Notes include: frankincense, rose, white chocolate, benzoin, sandalwood, patchouli, neroli, bitter orange, and more

Click here to try: Coromandel at Chanel

My Full Review

Here’s how Chanel describes it: “I thought I fainted with happiness when, for the first time, I saw a Coromandel,” Gabrielle Chanel said. Mademoiselle had a gift for understanding a variety of styles and mixing them with her own. She filled her Paris apartment with precious, floral-adorned Coromandel screens, creating a mysterious aura. The COROMANDEL fragrance reflects this feeling of exquisite enchantment.

Note: This is a review of the Les Exclusifs eau de parfum version of Coromandel. There’s others, like an EDT, and an EDP that wasn’t in the “Les Exclusifs” bottle…though, I believe it’s exactly the same as that one.

Coromandel definitely has a lot going on from the very start. A very deep fragrance. The opening gives you bright citruses, bitter orange, and the floral spices of neroli. But, that is joined by a massive hit of patchouli, along with some other unlisted spices (cinnamon).

The initial blast of spice and some of that citrus will lose positioning. The lovely white chocolate note emerges, which really helps to set Coromandel apart, and make this a scent to remember.

After about 20 minutes, the orris root and the smoky/resinous/amber notes start to play a larger role. Benzoin gives Coromandel that sweetish, almost fuzzy smelling aroma.

The iris aroma is the only distinct floral aroma, I get while wearing. There is also a jasmine and rose here, but not something I pick up on.

There is a warm smoke from incense and the general sweetness from the white chocolate, that can sometimes come across as pure vanilla in this stage (vanilla is a note, also).

Further along, the smokiness/fuzziness smooths out and it becomes more of a traditional amber note. Amber soaked wood, the patchouli note is in control with a rich green aroma, and the white chocolate/vanilla combination.

The citrus is gone. Very little floral influence. Spices to a minimum. Has an earthiness to it that feels refined and not too much like an overbearing patchouli note.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is at the upper end of moderate, at its peak. Not super strong or something that’ll fill a room, but you know Coromandel is there.

7-8 feet from the skin, at it’s max. Then, it’ll move in closer for a consistent level of projection.

On me, this lasts around 8 hours give or take. Sometimes, it’ll hang around a bit longer than that, I just bank on getting 8.

Seasonally, I’d stick to autumn and winter. This one needs to be worn in cooler temperatures for the best results. I’d put it away for summertime and find something else to wear then.

Coromandel is a unisex option from Chanel. Though, one that leans more feminine. It’s elegant and classy, not girly. So, if you’re a man, you can probably wear this without much issue. It just does lean more one way.

Coromandel might not be a daily wear for everyone. It’s not a nightlife bomb or party goer fragrance. It’s really good for more formal occasions, just not exclusively. Wear this one dressed up, to match its high price tag.

Overall Impressions of Coromandel EDP

Do I like this scent? Absolutely, this is a favorite of mine from Chanel, especially from their unisex options.

It’s got spices, amber, wood, smoke, resin, white chocolate, and a patchouli that’s actually awesome. Lots of detail and something that is utterly great on the right cold evening.

Everything here is well done and Coromandel manages to feel modern and classy without being stuffy.

The performance is well above average. Not completely elite or anything, but I’m not disappointed by it at all.

Is this a safe blind buy? I’d say probably not. It is definitely pricey, may not appeal to everyone, or might not fit your personal style at all. This is a Chanel, I’d for sure test out, because it can become a favorite perfume for the right person.

Higher by Christian Dior

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I recently got a hold of a travel size sprayer of Higher by Christian Dior. It’s been one that I’ve wanted to try out for a long while, so, I jumped at the chance to get a bit for pretty cheap.

This fragrance was released 20 years ago. As such, it isn’t all that abundant anymore. The question is, is Higher actually worth getting a full bottle of? How does it smell? Does it last?

What does Higher Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, peach, pear, basil, cypress, cedar, rosemary, pepper, and more

Try on Amazon:  Higher By Christian Dior For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

My Full Review

From the first spray, I immediately get a big dose of the herbal and spiced notes. Basil mostly, along with, pepper and rosemary. 

The fruit notes here are present, just really quite weak. The most noticeable aspect is the wateriness of the pear. A light lemon and some peach, for good measure. Everything comes together to exude a cold aromatic freshness.

It’s almost a melon-like feeling. Not necessarily a smell, but that cold, watery, crispness of a cut piece of melon.

Since this fragrance came out in 2001, Higher is a nice change of pace versus what else is popular these days. No giant ambroxan note, ‘blue-ish’ aroma, or anything along those lines. 

10-15 minutes into the wear, the pepper and rosemary, start to get replaced by cypress and cardamom. The basil sticks around for the duration and is one of the main notes in Higher.

What’s interesting is that during this stage, I get much more peach than I had before. It’s layered underneath, but I can distinctly pick out that fruit. It’s less of that original ‘melon’ and just a much more defined peach. 

The final dry down gives me: cypress, basil, cedar, and all of the other notes seem to blend together. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this is a light sort of fragrance. The first few minutes made me think that this would be more of a middle of the road scent. However, it quickly loses much of that initial projecting ability. It’s not a complete skin scent, at least for a few hourse.

The longevity is where this one loses me. It only sticks around for 3-4 hours on my skin. It’s really note good at all. I’m pretty sure that I had the same problem with Higher Energy, when I tried it 7-8 years ago. 

 

There was a Higher Black version as well, which I think had more intensity. But, good luck finding bottles of that. It’s really a disappointment with this line and maybe a reason why nobody really talks about Higher, as a classic Dior fragrance.

This is a great spring and summertime wear. Gives you a different option from the usual aquatics or heavy citrus scents. This is cool, fresh, and herbal/woody. Green with watery highlights from the pear note (and some light fruity sweetness).

That being said, early autumn also works. I’d probably go with something more substantial for the winter months.

You could wear this casually, to the office, or out on a date. Higher is a very attractive scent, that is perfectly capable of drawing complements.

Overall Impressions of Higher

Do I like this Dior scent? Based on smell alone, I think that Higher is great. It gives me a fairly unique vibe, with some depth, and it’s just pleasant to wear across the board.

I do like the basil note. The use of cypress and when the peach has it’s coming out party. It all comes together well and is super versatile.

That being said, the performance is pretty bad. It just won’t last for more than 4 hours at best. I’d probably be willing to buy a vintage bottle of this scent online, but, not for $130-ish.

I think they might sell this still in certain regions, but it’s discontinued in the US. So, you might not have to pay a high price, unless you have to import it. 

The basil and cypress notes are great. Along with the spices, it makes me think of L’Homme Libre. Not the same smell, but the spices and woods, have a similar style. 

This is an underrated scent that seems to have flown under the radar. Really, an awesome smelling scent.

I can absolutely recommend this one on the aroma. Performance? Not so much. Whether that works for you or not, is your decision.