Cologne Reviews

Bleu de Chanel EDT by Chanel

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Bleu de Chanel is a fragrance lineup that has been super popular for well over a decade now. The original EDT version kicked things off back in 2010, launching another mega successful product for Chanel. Fast forward to today and I’ve gotten a few samples of the latest Bleu batches and realized that I’d never done a proper review of this original formula.

A scent that I’ve long been familiar with. Time to correct that oversight. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it still worth a buy?

What does Bleu de Chanel Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, pink pepper, lemon, grapefruit, nutmeg, jasmine, ginger, incense, vetiver, musk, sandalwood, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Bleu de Chanel EDT from Chanel

bleu de chanel review

My Full Review

Here’s how Chanel describes it: A fragrance for the man who defies convention. A provocative blend of citrus and woody notes that liberates the senses. Fresh, clean and profoundly sensual.

Bleu de Chanel opens up with its extremely nice citrus blend. Grapefruit is the leader, but the opening gives you an added dose of the lemon. It’s pretty balanced overall, but that grapefruit will take a greater share of the attention as you move along.

With that, is the spice blend of mint, pink pepper, and ginger. It’s funny, many times that ginger note will stick out on my skin, but others the mint will really pop early on.

Colder and fresh spice. Though, the pink pepper and the labdanum from the base do have a slight warmth and resinous quality. Just not a huge amber influence in this EDT version.

The initial spice will begin to subside and the smokiness of incense will come to take over some of that space. No worries, the smoke isn’t overbearing at all.

That, along with vetiver plus some cedar and sandalwood, will give it a fresh woodsy influence instead of just the spices.

Yet, this isn’t a hugely woody cologne. The cedar and sandalwood are very light. I get a lot of vetiver, sitting underneath the citrus/incense with the mint and ginger.

Bleu EDT isn’t super complicated. The grapefruit will stick around, along with the vetiver, incense and generic woodiness. Towards the second hour or so, this even has a slight muskiness to it. But, the other notes are much more prominent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here has always been moderate. Actually, I don’t even notice a difference in projection off of the skin, between this and the Parfum version.

Bleu de Chanel is certainly noticeable and will venture pretty far, upon first spraying. Yet, on the whole, it is mostly going to create a scent bubble that sticks in that 3-5 foot range from the wearer.

In terms of how long it lasts, I’ve always gotten between 5-7 hours with Bleu EDT. It’s not a super long lasting fragrance, but that 7 hour mark is certainly doable with a good amount of spraying.

If I go lighter, it will fall more towards that five hour mark. You might have to do some testing, to see how much you’d personally need to apply. I’ve read other people say that they get this one to last over 9 hours, but it’s never been my own experience.

Seasonally, Bleu EDT can really be worn whenever. I prefer the spring and early summer with it. But, it’d work in winter as well. Though, there are a ton of more winter specific fragrances that I’d personally wear before this. On the other hand, if this is your only cologne, it’d be just fine.

Bleu is refined and classic, but isn’t a stuffy or serious scent. As such, younger men and older guys could wear this without any issue.

It’s safe for work, can go casual, or even be something worn on a date. Again, it’s not specifically built for nightlife or romantic wear, it’s just capable of filling that role if need be. It’s less of a sexy cologne though and more of an elegant scent.

Overall Impressions of Bleu de Chanel

Overall, do I like Bleu EDT? Yes, I really do still like the way that this one smells. But, it’s also my third favorite of the line, as the flanker fragrances surpassed the original.

Although, you may still decide to go with this version, if you want a fresh citrus without as much amber or woods.

But, this one is still a cologne that you can wear pretty much any time and is well-liked by the mass of people. It’s versatility is certainly one of its absolute strengths. Even if, the performance on the whole is just okay.

I have always enjoyed the bright citrus of lemon and grapefruit, being paired with the cool fresh notes like mint and vetiver. Plus, giving it a smoky incense to help liven things up, really was a masterstroke in perfumery.

The whole thing is balanced and delivers a great experience. Some find that to be boring, which I guess it can be, but not every fragrance needs to be some exotic aroma.

Is this my favorite scent ever? No, but it’s one that I always enjoy wearing. It’s a fragrance that can and does serve as the foundation for many men’s own collection. Whether it’s their only bottle or they have hundreds of others.

This is a completely safe blind buy. It might not completely wow everyone, but it is pretty hard not to like Bleu de Chanel on some level.

Noir Extreme Parfum by Tom Ford

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Noir Extreme is one of my personal favorite fragrances to wear. So, when I saw that the Parfum version was being released in 2022, I had to order a bottle for myself upon release. I was excited for a bolder and spicier remix of the original. Does it deliver? How long does it last? Is it actually worth a buy?

What does Noir Extreme Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: Shimoga ginger, cardamom, amber, tonka bean, guaiac wood, leather

Click here to try: Noir Extreme Parfum at Sephora

noir extreme parfum review

My Full Review

Here’s how Tom Ford describes it: A bold intensification of the original scent, Noir Extreme Parfum merges amber, spices, and woods, evoking the private, daring aspects of the Noir man.

Note: As of now, these are my initial thoughts of Extreme Parfum. Since it’s brand new, I’m going to be updating the page over the next week(s), as I get more time spent wearing it.

The opening of Noir Extreme Parfum has a lot going on. You get the same light citrus and neroli notes, as the original. What I do notice, is that the floral accord in this one does not have the same strength.

Those white floral notes do not play a major role in Parfum. Not that they’re massive in the original, but they are always present in that one. However, the citrus notes do have more of a role, adding a sparkling quality to the spice, and are playing off that initial ginger.

One of the main changes here, comes with the spices. The ginger note replaces the nutmeg of the original Extreme and is paired with that same cardamom note. The opening sprays are spicier, warmer, less sweet, and smoky.

The guaiac wood is also a new addition, hello smokiness. This a very rough, dry, and somewhat animalic version of the note, not a sweeter one. It’s funny that this base note, is so noticeable in the opening, but really tones down as it dries down.

So, the kulfi note is still present with the vanilla note. The vanilla is weaker in Parfum, splitting its strength with a tonka bean. This actually gives that kulfi accord a bit of a boost within the composition. A very similar effect overall, just slightly different.

The kulfi is sweet, creamy, with a pistachio finish.

Once the spices and guaiac wood has settled down, the leather note really comes out fully. That’s the biggest change with Parfum. Smooth, yes, but the smokiness and warmth doesn’t allow it to pop in the same way it does in something like Ombre Leather.

The final dry down is a leathery and spicier/warmer version of the original. It’s really a split between the remaining kulfi/tonka/vanilla notes and the leather. The amber note is noticeably weaker in the Parfum version’s dry down.

As a single note, the leather has the greatest weighting at this point.

noir extreme parfum

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The performance on the whole, is roughly the same as Extreme EDP. However, I don’t think that Parfum has the same sillage and projection as that one.

Not a huge difference, but it is a slight step back. You get that initial power from the ginger and cardamom, then, it settles into that same kind of moderate projection. Not a huge deal, but I thought that this would be a beast mode with the higher concentration.

Coming back to it again and again. It really doesn’t seem to be stronger than the original for me. I’ve tested on shirts to see how far away I can detect it and there’s almost no difference, other than EDP feels a bit more powerful.

With the EDP, I get 6-8 hours of wear from it usually. Though, with the way that I spray (heavy), it hits that 8 hour mark more often.

Parfum seems to be able to go up to 9 hours, during this initial testing. It’s a slight step back in terms of its strength, but its staying power is also slightly better on me. Again, about the same overall, but this is what I’ve gathered about it thus far.

Seasonally, Parfum is still a colder weather fragrance. It’s summer now, so, I’ve had to test it out in the air conditioning. Not ideal, but it’s fine in the temperate climate. In the heat, it gets messy like the original.

I can’t wait to give it a go in autumn and winter. That leather addition should be great.

Noir Extreme often felt like more of a unisex wear than being strictly something men would want to wear, since it’s based off the original Noir. This one, falls more so in the masculine camp, still wearable by anyone just heading toward one side of the spectrum.

Overall Impressions of Noir Extreme Parfum

Overall, do I like Noir Extreme Parfum? Yes, I do. Is it better than Noir Extreme? First impressions…not really.

These Tom Ford fragrances are really similar to each other, just with the differences that I mentioned above. I am a massive fan of the original, it’s one of my favorites ever, and it’s going to be tough to top.

I like the changes here, but there’s nothing about it that truly surpasses Extreme EDP.

Now, that’s my first impression. In a week or two, it might have flipped completely. As of this moment, Extreme Parfum is a few points below its predecessor.

Update: Parfum has grown on me more. It’s almost a tie at this point between these two fragrances for me. I will often spray both of them on at the same time. Like, two sprays of EDP for every spray of Parfum. Still, I think I still enjoy EDP more, personally.

That being said, you may prefer the added spice, smoke, and dirtiness that Parfum brings to the table. Though, if you also already have a bottle of Extreme EDP, the differences may not be enough to justify a bottle of this.

I’ve seen some people say already that these smell exactly the same. They don’t. There are distinct differences, but this also isn’t a complete re-imagining of the formula. Just expect less of that amber and white floral notes, also.

Is it worth a buy? Yes, it’s a great fragrance. If you already own one, you don’t ‘need’ the other. If you’re undecided, I might wait to be able to test this one and see if you dig the new changes versus the EDP version.

Encens Satin by Giorgio Armani

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Armani Prive is the upscale line of the Giorgio Armani brand. I’ve tried some of them out before, but not the entire range. I really wasn’t checking for Encens Satin, but when I had the change to buy a sample as a part of a lot, I went ahead and added it on. How does this one smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth the high price?

What does Encens Satin Smell Like?

Notes include: incense, amber, woods, spices

encens satin review

My Full Review

Here’s how Armani describes it: Celebrating a new vision of legendary, sensual, incense. Blue satin, as fluid as the Mediterranean. A midnight blue, refined and modern, one of Giorgio Armani’s most emblematic colors. Satin that caresses as it envelopes the body, always in motion. It is this opulence and radiance that inspired Giorgio Armani to create Encens Satin, a fragrance where each note is wrapped in a deep, luminous embrace.

This is an absolutely smooth, warm, and rich incense fragrance. many other perfumes which use that note, have a harsher and smokier incense. This one is hot and almost like it hasn’t been burned in a while, and yes, somehow feels like it’s wrapped in satin. Weird.

With that, there are some generic spice notes up top. Not very distinct in how they come across, almost like they are sprinkled within the amber itself. It feels like they used labdanum here too, along with the amber note. It’s sweeter, spicier, and deeper than I’d expect otherwise.

The wood here is quite light. I get brief hits of it throughout, but this really turns into the incense and amber show. Sure, some hints of spice remain, just not to the same extent as the beginning.

Again, since the smokiness isn’t heavy, Encens Satin actually comes across as clean and very dry. I get the same deep darkness impression that I get with another Armani scent, AdG Profumo, just on the opposite end of the spectrum.

Water based incense versus this dry aroma. Oh, the frankincense is way higher quality here, though.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Encens Satin isn’t a super heavy fragrance. It has depth, but it very wearable. I don’t find it to be blow out a room powerful. It projects itself well above average, in the first few hours, and will leave a nice scent trail.

But, never made me feel as if it were dominating absolutely everything.

The longevity is great. I got well above 10 hours on my skin. Probably in the 12-ish hour range, at least as a faint amber note. There is no disappointments with how this scent performs.

Seasonally, this is going to be autumn and winter. Maybe the early part of spring, at night. But, I really wouldn’t go too warm with when I ventured to wear Encens. It works in the cold and crisp weather, but can fall apart completely in the heat.

This Armani is indeed a true unisex. Doesn’t lean too far in either direction. Perhaps, a slight bit more traditionally male. Not enough to make a fuss over.

This isn’t a daily wear for most people. Sure, cold weather and out a night, it’s great. Maybe not a daytime fragrance to go with in many office environments. Some folks, might have jobs where it’d be fine.

Again, not too intrusive and not obnoxious. Just kind of depends on your own circumstances.

Overall Impressions of Encens Satin

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I do. I’m not a major fan of the incense based fragrances of this sort, but this Armani is fantastic for what it is.

The amber and the incense lead the way, with only hints of spices and wood throughout. However, it simply works. Not too complex, but you get a full array of sweetness, spiciness, smokiness and just a great perfume all around.

It projects strongly, but isn’t so overpowering as to make it off-putting. But, it also lasts a long time, helping to make the cost of entry with Encens Satin more palatable.

I am pretty sure that Encens Satin has been discontinued, as it’s out of stock everywhere that I’m looking, at the moment. As such, you’ll probably have to track down a bottle in order to experience it…or grab a sample first on eBay, if available.

That being said, if your an incense fan or just think that this one sounds interesting, Encens is definitely worth a try.

The One for Men Grey by D&G

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Dolce & Gabbana keeps right on using The One name to introduce new fragrances, some of which actually have a relation to the original formulation. 2018’s The One Grey, is one of those cologne offerings which has a lot of overlap with the popular EDT and EDP versions of this D&G scent. But, how does it smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does The One Grey Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, coriander, cardamom, vetiver, basil, lavender, geranium, sage, patchouli, tobacco, labdanum

Click here to try: The One for Men Grey

My Full Review

The One Grey is very much a flanker of The One and I can tell that from the opening spray. The difference with Grey is, that the strength of each of the notes has been changed in order to make a lighter fragrance more friendly to warmer temperatures than The One EDP.

Grapefruit leads the way, just like the original versions. Except that it is amped up in this formulation. Spicier, fresher, with less tobacco and amber.

It is joined by cardamom, sage, basil, and coriander as the main spices. Basil is actually strong to my nose and the equal to the cardamom early on. That will change and cardamom will be the one which sticks around the longest.

The basil will fade and sage, takes its place, but doesn’t muscle out that cardamom. Coriander is a distant fourth, with a minor influence. Patchouli very briefly gives Grey an earthiness, that will pass too.

It is interesting that after the initial blast, I can pick up on that tobacco note, from the others in the series. It sits underneath almost everything, but it is there reminding you of The One EDP.

After 20 minutes or so, this is less of an intense spice and more of a lightly spiced clean freshness. Vetiver, lavender, geranium and that tobacco really help to moderate this one.

Bright citrus with a cold aromatic aroma.

The final dry down will be a balanced mix of vetiver, lavender, tobacco, and cardamom. Still a bit of a spice, but not much, and there is a smokiness that emerges. Not heavy, but I guess it’s the labdanum mixing with vetiver and some other notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The One Grey actually has some decent power, at least for a while. It’s not a massive fragrance, but for the first few hours you will get nice projection off of the skin.

This Dolce & Gabbana is not going to leave a scent trail behind you for all that long. However, I get a nice intimate bubble of the fragrance for most of the wear. It’s pretty average, but towards the above average end of things.

This one lasts on my skin, somewhere in the 6-7 hour range. Not one that’s going to seriously outperform (like its predecessors), but it also doesn’t just quit like EDT, either.

Seasonally, this one takes the formula of The One and makes it acceptable for the spring and summer months. I love The One EDP, but the heat is not friendly towards it. With Grey, the clean style and lightness of the notes makes it one that can take the heat.

It’s fine in more moderate early autumn weather, also. I’d skip the winter application and go with EDP, instead.

This doesn’t have that same level of sexiness or date night vibe as the EDP. This is more suited for daytime wear, good for the office, casual, or even semi-formal occasions.

It smells good. Is attractive and easy to like. You can wear it in a lot of different scenarios without issue. Very nice versatility here.

 

 

Overall Impressions of The One Grey

Overall, do I like The One Grey? I do. It’s actually one of the better flankers from this line, despite the lack of fanfare about it.

The originals, Luminous Night, and EDP Intense are all better than this. But, I like it more than Gentleman and Royal Night (slightly). It gives you a different weighting of the notes of the original, but in a more palatable form for day to day wear, in the warmer months.

Grapefruit and vetiver give it a nice and freshly clean feeling. There’s still some tobacco and the spicy notes create a dynamic aroma, without being too much to handle.

The performance is much like other entries in the series, not terrible like the original, just passable and useful for daily wear. I’ve read others say that this one is weak, that hasn’t been my experience with the travel sprayer, this one came in.

If you like the originals, this one is worth a try. You just have to know going in, that it’s not the same fragrance. Yes, the note’s are quite the same, but the style is different. A remixed version of the original, where the background players get shown more love.

Dior Homme EDT (2020) by Dior

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Dior Homme is a series which has been well-loved in its multiple iterations during the past two decades. Well, Dior once again reformulated the fragrance in 2020, moving away from the iris based scent. The 2011 version was my daily wear for a long stretch of time and I’ve been really slow at giving this newer edition a try. How does it smell? Is it actually worth a shot?

What does Dior Homme (2020) Smell Like? 

Notes include: bergamot, elemi, pink pepper, Haitian vetiver, Atlas cedar, musk, patchouli, cashmere, Iso E Super

Click here to try: Dior Homme at Macy’s

dior homme edt review

My Full Review

Here’s how Dior describes it: The virility of Atlas Cedar embraces the enveloping warmth of Haitian vetiver with a caress of spices. An intensely woody yet luminous signature that leaves a sensual trail.

Dior Homme does open up with the same slight citrus quality as its predecessors. Now, completely different fragrances, but that bergamot is still here. It just doesn’t punch you in the face like other citrus openings.

Actually, what this one actually reminds me of is the old Guerlain Homme, that I used to wear 6 or 7 years ago. That one was boozy/sweet with its mojito accord, but the underneath that, it is very similar to the start of this new Dior.

They share the bergamot, vetiver, and cedar notes. Plus, an overall freshness with some spice. Here it’s pink pepper and patchouli, rather than mint and geranium.

Aside from that light citrus top, pink pepper and vetiver are pretty strong for me early on. I get much more of that Haitian vetiver than I do the cedar in this early stage, but that will change as we move forward. 

The spice isn’t overwhelming at all here. It’s more of just a touch, along with a bit of resinous warmth from that elemi note. Another scent that seems to be a distant cousin to this is Allure Homme Sport Cologne…which is almost a dead ringer for Dior Homme Cologne.

That cologne version of the popular Chanel has a cedar finish and that same elemi resinous warmth.

As this rolls along, it’s less of that fresh spice and the woods have a sweeter quality. Cedar and the Iso E Super influence really start to show. A light general musk and some smooth cashmere wood also join the fray. 

This Iso E Super seems to add a general woody/earthy quality that leans more towards the patchouli side of the spectrum. It’s very clean when it’s all brought together. I like the cedar note a lot in this blend. 

The final dry down of this fairly simple fragrance, is more of a sweet musky aroma with touches of the remaining woods. Really easy to wear and is quite clean.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here isn’t amazing, but it is a fragrance that leaves a trail and has a nice ability to project itself from the skin. Just not a beast at all, however.

Dior Homme is pretty moderate. You’ll probably stop noticing it, before others around you do. Since it isn’t a heavy scent with one note that really sticks out, you can sometimes think that it is gone, and then it’ll re-emerge. 

The longevity here seems to be in the 6.5-8 hour range, on skin. Not great, but very serviceable for most purposes. There’s a decent chance that you’ll make it a full work day, but you may need to reapply, if you’re getting drinks afterward. 

The strength of this scent, lies in its versatility. I mean, it wouldn’t be my winter fragrance, but it could probably still work decently there. In the height of summer, I’d also probably go with something else. Though, it did do an okay job in the heat during testing.

It’s mass appealing, safe for work, and has a masculine aroma without being overbearing. It can be worn almost anywhere and be fine. Unless you want a nightclub beast, Dior Homme should have you pretty much covered.

As a daily wear office cologne, Dior Homme is definitely one to reach for.

The age range should be everyone. It’s modern and fresh. Dynamic enough for younger guys, while not being childish or tacky. Plus, a classy confidence for the professional type. 

 

 

Overall Impressions of Dior Homme EDT (2020)

Overall, do I like the 2020 version of Dior Homme? I really do. It’s not as good as Intense or the 2011 version, in my mind, but has a very great and simplistic aroma that I find attractive.

The old Dior Homme with the iris, leather, and cacao notes had a uniqueness and depth that this one doesn’t. But, this will probably have more mass appeal, without that famous iris note.

I am getting a complete Guerlain vibe from this cologne, though. It’s a better scent than Guerlain Homme, which was kind of quirky with its mojito influence. But, this has that same vetiver and cedar almost to a tee. 

This isn’t super powerful, but the longevity is good enough for most purposes. Beyond that, Dior Homme EDT, is extremely versatile, safe to wear for all ages, and exudes the usual Dior class. 

This is for sure worthy of a buy. Just understand that this is a fragrance that is more low key and understated. Dior Homme doesn’t beg for attention, but it will still attract it.