Cologne Reviews

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. 

L’Homme Ideal Cologne by Guerlain

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Okay, so, I have already reviewed L’Homme Ideal by Guerlain on this site. Since this initial publication, they came out with Cologne and a host of other fragrances under the Ideal banner. The subject of this review, L’Homme Ideal Cologne, always got me confused with the original EDT release because of the name and very similar original bottles. Anyway, I’ve updated the page for my review, for this fragrance I don’t even think they make anymore.

What does L’Homme Ideal EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, bergamot, orange, almond, musk, pink pepper, musk, neroli

Click here to try: Guerlain L’Homme Ideal Cologne EDT Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Ideal Cologne is an excellent blast of the citrus notes that makes up the composition. Mostly, it’s grapefruit and orange but I can also detect of bergamot. Really, I find it to be very attractive at the start, I love the citrus notes in this fragrance.

Now, the almond note is also there, and is the main attraction in the original L’Homme Ideal but this is an entirely different scent from that one (which is also a great fragrance).

This is more of a summery citrus based fragrance while the original is more of a sweet masculine scent for the colder months of the year.

About 15-20 minutes after spraying on my skin, the almond and vetiver notes become much more prominent. Man, it becomes such a smooth and pleasant scent to wear.

The citrus notes feel quite ‘cool’ and light, almost like a frozen drink, and then the almond and vetiver give it a bit more substance as it wears on.

Thankfully, the musk note in here isn’t overpowering and provides a nice touch. It screams freshness with that sort of zesty energy found with citrus.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Ideal Cologne isn’t a big hitter, and really doesn’t need to be. This is a light fragrance that doesn’t hit you over the head, rather, it lingers throughout the day.

None of the Ideal scents are complete beast mode, at least for long stretches of time. However, this is lighter than flankers like EDP, and is going to sit closer to the skin for much of the wear.

It’s longevity is better than the original fragrance. With this, I can hit 8 hours or more of good performance. Again, it’s not a powerful scent but it will stick around for a while. For a summer scent, it’s actually got great performance.

For me, this is spring/summer all the way. While I completely dig L’Homme Ideal, I felt that it’s performance wasn’t totally up to snuff, and I have too many other options in the colder months.

However, with Ideal Cologne, I get a very reasonable option for when it’s warm outside, nice performance, and a scent that is versatile. Update: Yeah, wearing this outdoors is a great experience during the early parts of the summer.

I could wear this casually or out on a date and feel like it would work well. It’s attractive in the sense that you want to smell it, but not necessarily a ‘sexy’ fragrance…it kind of skirts that line.

This is a good option for those who want something to wear during summer evenings. It’s clean and has a crowd pleasing aroma.

Overall Impressions of L’Homme Ideal

Overall, would I recommend L’Homme Ideal Cologne? Yes. I think it’s a really good cologne all around. Not the best thing ever, granted, but still a great wear that is still affordable.

Update: This has been discontinued for a while now. Though, it’s among my favorite from the Ideal series. Maybe, even number one, depending on the day. I doesn’t appear that you can still chase down cheap bottles. So, I don’t know if I’d pay the higher asking price. Over $100 is a bit much, unless you’re already sure that you love this one. 

This fragrance did grow on me, more and more, as I got more experience with it after initial testing. The Ideal fragrances are a bit overhyped, in my opinion, but they’re all enjoyable. 

Update 2: Guerlain basically re-released this as Ideal Platine Prive. So, try to find that if you can. That is a limited edition too, but still more bottles available versus the Cologne version.

The citrus and almond combination is awesome here. Taking these notes found in the rest of the line and giving them precedence versus the heavier leathers and smoke that can be found in other Ideal scents.

From what I’ve seen you can pick up a nice sized bottle for under $40, at most places online. I’m quite impressed by this and will probably pick up a full bottle for myself at some point. For the summer, it’s a nice pick up and it isn’t too well known.

Obsessed for Men By Calvin Klein

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Walking through a department store, I made my usual pass around the fragrance counters, and saw a Calvin Klein display with a men’s fragrance I have yet to try. Apparently, it’s a new release and called Obsessed for Men. There was a tester spray bottle, so, I hit my arms up with three sprays in order to experience it and do a one-time wear review for the site.

In this post, I’m going to cover all of the usual aspects of this cologne, and give my take on how it wears and performed during my limited interaction with it.

What does Obsessed by Calvin Klein Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, cardamom, pepper, ambroxan, leather, grapefruit, cedar

Click here to try: Calvin Klein Obsessed for Men Eau De Toilette, 1 fl. oz.

My Full Wear Review

Obsessed for Men seems like a very familiar scent even though I cannot pinpoint what specific cologne it reminds me of. I’m leaning towards it being a mix of several fragrances and just triggering my memory all at once.

The opening gives me a really fresh start with the grapefruit, pepper, and cedar stepping out in front. The vanilla note is always present and really ties the whole thing together.

Obsessed is a very clean fragrance, it is on the lighter side, and almost unisex but man, I like the super fresh energy that I get from it.

I think Obsessed is supposed to be a flanker fragrance to the original Obsession or at least a nod to it.  There does seem to be some overlap but since it’s been a few years since last wearing Obsession, I can’t really give a detailed head to head.

However, it does share the grapefruit, vanilla, and amber/ambroxan notes, so there is some similarity…but I don’t really recall the original smelling like this.

As Obsessed wears on, it becomes more vanilla/spicy/ambroxan than it’s initial grapefruit, though it doesn’t ever really become masculine. Still quite fresh and clean and upbeat.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Obsessed is okay. It’s not really a powerful scent but it isn’t as bad as some other CK releases. Not a powerhouse, but it can give you a few feet of radius off of your skin.

The longevity for my test run was about 4-5 solid hours and then maybe another hour wear it was still noticeable but weak. Again, not great but not the worst either. Maybe it’d be better in different weather or with more wear from me but that’s what I got with the one time deal.

Even if I had spent more time with this fragrance, I wouldn’t expect more than a few more hours on the high end of things. This, like a lot of other CK scents, isn’t a big time performer.

Seasonally,  you do get a lot of use from a cologne like this. It’s probably not great at the extremes of temperatures, but for spring and early summer it’s fine. Also, in the autumn months, Obsessed would be quite nice.

I’d call this a casual cologne, though, I could see myself wearing this on a date. Again, it’s not the most masculine scent but it does have a certain attractiveness/sexiness to it. The vanilla note is sweet, fairly warm, and darkened by the spice. It’s quite intriguing.

Overall Impressions of Obsessed

Overall, would I say Obsessed for men is a buy? Maybe. I actually do really like the way it smells, but I’d want some more time wearing it before making a call. It’s not a hyper unique scent but it is quite pleasant.

It’s clean, with some spice, and sweetness. The ambroxan isn’t too overpowering in the mix. Yes, it’s a leader in the composition, just nothing crazy. I liked the vanilla note here, along with that cardamom.

I have some concerns about the longevity but maybe it’d be better with more testing. This is a solid offering from Calvin Klein, it could be better, but I like it well enough. Perhaps, it is a buy at the right price.

Full price? Nah. At a discounter? You could do a lot worse than this one.

Ed Hardy Love & Luck for Men

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Another sample that I recently got a hold of is another one from Christian Audiger’s Ed Hardy lineup of men’s colognes, Love & Luck. It’s usually a cologne that you can pick up for dirt cheap. So, it’s good to see if it has any real value. In this post, I’m going to cover what it smells like, how it performs, when it should be worn, and it is worth a purchase or not.

What does Love & Luck Smell Like?

Notes include: orange, violet, cardamom, bergamot, musk, cedar, absinth, vetiver, agarwood

Click here to try: Ed Hardy Love & Luck for Men 3.4 oz 100 ml EDT Spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Love & Luck is a blast of the citrus notes, that power through the entire wear. Some folks have compared this to Creed Millesime Imperial; and nope, the two aren’t even close unless this has been reformulated completely.

Imperial has much more of a melon and sea salt aroma versus Love & Luck which is an orange/bergamot blend with woody undertones.

Also, the quality of the notes is very noticeable. The Creed is much more naturalistic while this isn’t really at all. It is what it is, just don’t expect photorealistic fruit notes with Love & Luck.

In the background from the opening, I do detect some floral notes which I assume are the violet and the absinth, that is giving this fragrance a rather unique scent. There is a greenish quality here, not total floral dominance, but that is a substantial part.

It allows Love & Luck to have a balanced heart and not just being a full-on juicy citrus fruit, although, that is the most dominant part of this scent.

Also, some sage and other herbal notes poke through for a little more added freshness.

Honestly, Love & Luck is pretty linear. It does have a dry down, but the citrus notes are still the biggest part of it, that the cologne isn’t really changing all that much. I’d say that it does become slightly more musky and earthy than it is in the beginning.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Love & Luck isn’t super strong but it does have some nice sillage to it. A few sprays and you will notice it for the first hour and then catch whiffs of it thereafter. It’s actually above average, on my skin.

After that first hour, it will be softer. Again, noticeable. Though, within a pretty defined bubble around where you sprayed Love & Luck.

It’s longevity isn’t bad either, I can get around 5-6 hours from this juice. Now, is that great? Nope, but for a fragrance that sells for under $20, that’s pretty darn good. Plus, it’s better than the performance of another Christian Audiger parfum, Skulls & Roses. 

I will also add that its versatility is one of its strengths. This is a solid option for a casual cologne or something that can be worn low key on nights out. If you’re looking for a high-end, formal, or fragrance to cover all your bases this won’t be it.

It doesn’t strike me as sexy or super sophisticated but as a cheapie scent, it holds up well. This is one for the warmer months of the year and it performs well in the heat.

This does skew younger with its targeted demographic. If you’re an older man, you’ll probably want to go with something else. Love & Luck is okay for college age guys and a few years on either side of that range.

Overall Impressions of Love & Luck

Overall do I like this Ed Hardy fragrance? It’s good for what it is. It’s not something that I want to wear all that often. However, if you’re someone who needs something that is extremely inexpensive for the summertime, this will get the job done.

The fragrance has some decent citrus notes and a pretty nice use of cardamom. It’s not a Imperial Millesime clone, in my opinion.

But, I do rather like it at times during the wear. It’s pleasant and not totally offensive with its inexpensive formulation. It’s fairly solid, all around.

So, I wouldn’t buy based on hoping for that. For a cheapie, you could do a lot worse, but this is one that should mainly be worn by teens or guys in their early 20s.

There’s nothing really here that is done extremely well. After all, it’s a cheapie, an above average cheapie…still not amazing.

Pasha de Cartier Edition Noire by Cartier

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In my latest batch of samples that I received, I got a hold of two more Cartier fragrances to do a full test and review of. One of them, is a flanker scent to the original Pasha de Cartier, entitled: Edition Noire. How does this cologne smell? What are the notes? How does it perform? Please continue below for my full take.

What does Pasha de Cartier Edition Noire Smell Like?

Notes include: amber, cedar, green citrus, mint, violet, and more

Click here to try: Cartier Pasha de Cartier Edition Noire Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

I find the opening of Pasha de Cartier Edition Noire to be quite interesting. On the one hand I get some citrus aroma with light aquatic sensibilities, then, a warm woody amber/cedar combination to balance it. It is very fresh and clean, seemingly generic, but very attractive all the while.

The citrus opening is attractive, but those notes don’t stick around for too long in that heightened state.

After a few minutes, the crisp and chilly spiciness of the mint note arrives and gives Edition Noire a more masculine edge. It is a sweet fragrance but don’t think candy-like, it is more of a citrus sweetness mix with floral notes like violet and iris.

The mint pairs initially with the cedar and the remaining watery notes. Iris, heliotrope, and violet sit within the heart of this fragrance.

A spring/summertime sweetness that hangs in the air when you walk outside and of course a powdery hint with the iris note.

I did think that this one might have more of the heliotrope and iris notes than it actually did. They are there, but I almost expected them to dominate, and that’s not really the case.

The close out is plenty of wood, amber, and the iris. There is a slight spice and earthiness to the aroma, at this point. I mean, it’s at least more noticeable to me.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this Cartier scent is light to moderate. It’s not a weak fragrance, just one that is airy. 3 sprays seemed to do the trick quite nicely, for me.

It doesn’t have the heaviness or the thickness that some other scents can have. However, the projection off of the skin is pretty decent for a few hours at least. It’ll be much closer and intimate thereafter.

While it isn’t super powerful, it does give good longevity, clocking in around 7 hours give or take. Edition Noire isn’t going to blow the doors off, but it will stick around for a nice amount of time. Not elite performance, just useful.

Seasonally, I think the mint note in particular allows it to work pretty much year round. It is crisp and warm enough for the winter, while having that clean aquatic feeling for the summer months. Well done.

It’s probably at its best in rather moderate temperatures and climates. So, early autumn and springtime would be ideal for this Cartier.

Though, wearing this in the heat wasn’t a bad experience. Maybe avoid some of those insanely hot and humid days…outside of that, you’re good to go.

You could wear this casually, at work, or even on a date. It is attractive but never in your face about it. The strength of Edition Noire really comes with just how versatile of a cologne it is.

This is dignified enough to wear in more formal scenarios, while not being too uptight for when you want to just chill.

Overall Impressions of Edition Noire

Overall, would I recommend Pasha de Cartier Edition Noire? Yes. I really dig this stuff. Just as an everyday wear, it would be a welcome addition to the lineup.

It smells really nice, is refreshing, and totally inoffensive. Cartier usually doesn’t disappoint and it definitely did not with this cologne.

I enjoy the freshness of the mint and citrus combination, along with that aquatic undertone that comes through. Also, the powdery iris, woods, and amber is a great little turning point for this one.

The powdery aspect wasn’t as strong as I might have thought coming in. But, I like the balance that Cartier has struck with this fragrance.

Edition Noire is a scent that has flown under the radar since its release. Though, I do think that it represents a good value, at this price range. I don’t think that it is a must have, but I wouldn’t ever be opposed to wearing it.