Cologne Reviews

Amber Essence by Ferrari

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I’m almost done going through and writing up all of the samples of Ferrari fragrance that I have laying around. It’s pretty interesting for a car manufacturer to have its own cologne line, but whatever. Today, I am going to do a review of Amber Essence by Ferrari from its Essence line of fragrances. What does it smell like? Does it perform well? Is it worth a purchase?

What does Amber Essence Smell Like?

Notes include: amber, patchouli, nutmeg, cashmere wood, musk, coriander, bergamot

Click here to try: Ferrari Amber Essence By Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3 Oz

My Full Wear Review

With a name like Amber Essence, it’s pretty clear what Ferrari intends to give you from the start. Obviously, if you’re going to enjoy this one, you must like amber on some level. It is the main attraction and from the opening it makes its presence known.

That’s not to say that it’s an absolute bomb, it isn’t. Instead, Amber Essence starts off softly with a woody amber topped with a hint of citrus and some nutmeg spice.

It’s a warm and highly fresh aroma, that is masculine while being completely understated. It comes across as very dry, with the wood and patchouli notes being the main supporters to the amber.

Still, it’s light and I enjoy the fact that they didn’t try to drown out the amber by amping up the coriander or bergamot notes. Those are of course, present, but the serve the background and give Amber Essence a bit more depth.

Like many of the other Ferrari fragrances, this one is pretty linear. What you smell after about 5-10 minutes is what you’re going to get from it. That’s not a bad thing in this case, as the cologne is pleasant and something that I enjoy getting whiffs of throughout the day.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

As I’ve written, Amber Essence is a lighter fragrance, so don’t expect a sillage bomb. You’ll be able to get away with spraying more than usual and since it’s inexpensive, it doesn’t really matter too much.

It’s noticeable from 4-6 feet at first. Then, it’ll settle down much closer to the skin. Although, it doesn’t become a complete ‘skin scent’ until much later in the wear.

However, even though it isn’t a loud or heavy scent, it does last a long time. It might be the longest lasting cologne from Ferrari and I can easily get 8-10 hours of it. Is it powerful? No, but it’s there for much longer than I would have expected.

This fragrance is versatile because it is so safe and inoffensive. You could wear it casually or out on a date or at the office. It’s attractive and has a bit of sexiness to it.

It’s easy to wear, best worn in mild to colder weather. Frankly, the colder weather of late autumn and winter is ideal for Amber Essence.

If you want something for the night club scene, you might want to go with something that stands out a bit more than this…but for everything else, Amber Essence is fine. It is limited to wear during the colder months of the year.

Overall Impressions of Amber Essence

Overall, do I recommend Amber Essence by Ferrari? Yes, I think it is one of their best scents. As an inexpensive amber fragrance, this is a really nice option. Is it amazing? No, but it is solid. I really like the simplicity and the combination of notes that they used for this.

I like the mix of the amber, dry wood, citrus, and spice early on. Nutmeg is a note that I usually enjoy, and while it isn’t huge within this mix, it does add a little something.

The namesake amber is actually pretty quality for a fragrance in this price range. Maybe not as completely dominant as you’d expect, but still nice.

Cashmere wood and patchouli have a greater role to play once past that initial phase. This is an amber/wood cologne, rather than being a pure amber scent.

For a really low price you get something that is smooth, versatile, and can actually last a long time. Not perfect by any means, but enjoyed wearing it. Amber Essence is another example of Ferrari providing good value.

Not all of their fragrances are worthwhile, but they do have a surprisingly decent collection. Amber Essence sits near the top.

1 Million vs 1 Million Prive Cologne Comparison

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Paco Rabanne’s 1 Million has been a hyper-popular cologne ever since its release however many years ago. It is known as a bold and absolute monster performer, which has been a go to for younger men, at bars and night clubs across the globe.

With the release of 2016’s flanker scent, 1 Million Prive, the fragrance may have some competition from one which was birthed from it’s own success.

In this post, I am going to give my thoughts and performance review, in order to create a comparison between 1 Million vs 1 Million Prive by Paco Rabanne for men.

Tale of the Tape: Prive vs. 1 Million

1 Million

Notes include: grapefruit, blood orange, rose, mint, cinnamon, amber, leather, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

Read my original review: 1 Million EDT Review

 

1 Million Prive

Notes include: tonka bean, apple, cinnamon, myrrh, mandarin orange, tobacco

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne 1 Million Prive Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

Read my original review: 1 Million Prive Cologne Review

 

Opening

The original 1 Million has this grape bubblegum-like opening that has become pretty infamous. This candy scented start is one reason I think this fragrance has pushed some people away from wearing it. Personally, I think that it works just fine and actually enjoy it.

1 Million opens up with leather, citrus, and rose. Together, they create that bubblegum sort of smell. It’s actually a really smooth leather, juicy orange and grapefruit. This is surrounded by a warm and bold amber, with hints of cooling mint. 

All in all, it’s a nice and powerful start, to this now classic best-seller.

Prive, on the other hand, takes on something a bit darker and less sweet. It still retains the cinnamon note of the original but adds a scent of apple (though, it’s not an actual ingredient, it’s just the effect that the blend gives off), which reminds me of cinnamon applesauce but not as sweet.

There is a light citrus note, provided by the same mandarin orange, as the original.  Tonka bean, myrrh, and tobacco come in later, to give it a rich and thick aroma. 

Honestly, I think I was digging the opening of Prive while wearing it the other day, more so than when I wear the original. The more time that I’ve spent with both, the more that I prefer Prive as a flanker cologne.

Edge: Prive

Projection

Update: The latest batch of 1 Million that I tried, isn’t nearly as strong as it used to be. As such, I’m downgrading it, and calling this category a tie. Below is my original take.

1 Million is a straight beast in terms of performance and in order to take this category, Prive would have had to match or somehow even exceed the bar that was set. It doesn’t.

Prive actually has really good projection and is by no means weak, but, 1 Million is legendary in this regard. Maybe newer formulations of 1 Million are toned down, somewhat, but I haven’t experienced that myself.

Prive is a very strong fragrance, so, you won’t actually be disappointed by the performance, it just doesn’t hold a candle to the original. 

Edge: Push

 

Longevity

Update: The newer batches of 1 Million don’t go as long. Usually, it still hits 8-9 hours, but now Prive has the upper hand.

Again, performance wise, 1 Million takes the cake. It goes on forever seemingly. Prive is no joke and will last 9-10 hours after spraying.

1 Million, always seemed to go for 12 hours, on my skin. Then, I’d lose track of it. I mean, you have to go to sleep at some point. Nonetheless, Prive is again, a great performer too. 

Edge: Prive

Versatility

Both of these colognes are useful for casual to romantic wear. Though, go lightly when wearing to work or school. Both are well suited to the colder weather. I would say, that Prive, is better suited for more formal events. Even though, it’s not really a formal scent, by any means. 

However, 1 Million can probably hold up better during warmer whether than can Prive, which gives it the edge here. For me, these both were always colder weather, nightlife wears. 

Edge: 1 Million

Overall Scent

Right now, I am enjoying Prive more than I do 1 Million. The original is a better performer but Prive is also great in that manner. Prive is smooth, warm, and I really like the cinnamon/tobacco note dry down period.

Update: After a few years of having tried Prive, after its release, I can say it is my favorite 1 Million fragrance. Better than the original and 1 Million Lucky.  Plus, it now has a better performance than the original, also.

Update 2: Prive has been discontinued, as of now. I tried to find a bottle a few months back and it wasn’t possible at a reasonable price. So, the original 1 Million EDT is the one I’d go with out of the series, if I couldn’t get my hands on a bottle of Prive…which looks like is going to be the case moving forward.

It’s just the most well rounded fragrance of them all. It has enough elements of the original to be familiar, then, adds to that foundation with something uniquely its own. 

Prive seems darker and a bit more mature than the original and I love the tonka bean note. That’s not to say that the orginal 1 Million is bad. It isn’t and I still like to wear it but as of writing I’m more into Prive. Maybe, it is recency bias but I’m going with the new flanker as the winner.

Winner: Prive

Solarissimo Marettimo by Azzaro

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Still making my way through the box of samples I have sitting in my closet, which includes a few more Azzaro fragrances, that I’ve never gotten to use before. Today’s entry is from the Solarissimo lineup and is entitled, Marettimo.

The card describes it as, “an invigorating and sunny getaway. This woody Eau de Toilette with marine notes encapsulates all of the Mediterranean’s natural freshness.” Does it deliver? Continue reading below for my full take on Solarissimo Marettimo.

What does Solarissimo Marettimo Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, calypsone, and cedar

Click here to try: Azzaro Solarissimo Marettimo Cologne For Men 2.5 oz Eau De Toilette Spray

My Full Wear Review

I had never heard of this scent by Azzaro before getting a hold of the sample vial and so had no preconceptions about what it is.

After spraying this on my skin, the opening was so very familiar, and I haven’t been able to match what Solarissimo Marettimo smells like…but it is a dead ringer for another cologne, that I’ve reviewed.

Maybe, I’m conflating multiple scents?

Anyway, the fragrance opens with a lemon note which floats on top of the sea water, which adds that usual slight saltiness to the composition. There is of course the cedar note which provides a woody base, think of a piece of driftwood, floating on the ocean’s surface.

Other than that, there is also a bit of a spice within the cologne, I think it might be musk but I’m not 100% on that. Maybe it’s a part of the calypsone note, which is the sea water aroma. Not sure which.

This Azzaro scent is very linear and within a few minutes, what you smell is what you get from there on out.

The only real change is the citrus fades some more and the marine notes, with the cedar base, take over. That’s what I got from it. Simple. Though, I do like how it smells.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s fairly weak. Like, the sillage is that of a skin scent, even when I sprayed three times in the same spot. Weakness.

When I sprayed even more, it’s basically a fragrance that is going to sit within about 3 feet of where you sprayed. This stuff is light and not going to leave a huge scent trail.

The longevity isn’t good either, I can detect it for about 4 hours on my skin before it evaporates completely. That’s what I expected once I realized how light of a cologne it was going to be.

Kind of sucks, as Marrettimo really had a lot of potential as a summertime sleeper, if it could muster any type of performance.

In terms of it’s versatility, I would chalk it up as a warm weather casual cologne. I suppose you could wear it in a more dressy situation, but you probably won’t be able to smell it, due to the poor performance…so not like it matters.

To be fair, maybe that’s just how it lasts on my skin. If you can get better performance, it would be a pretty good scent to wear for the summertime. Also, could fit with any age group.

Overall Impressions of Solarissimo Marettimo

Overall, do I recommend Solarissimo Marettimo? I can’t. It smells nice and I wish I could tell you what other better performing cologne it reminds me of, but I really can’t place it. It’s kind of in the same vein as something like the Light Blue series by D&G, but doesn’t smell the same.

This is a fairly generic oceanic citrus fragrance, without much longevity or personality. It’s pleasant but that’s about it. I do like the oceanic note here, with the citron or lemon note, it does come across nicely.

Azzaro can really be hit or miss with their fragrances. They seem to have a lot of random scents that are entirely forgettable. Then, they will release something that becomes extremely popular. This cologne is one of the former.

It wouldn’t be a bad pickup if you needed something for the summer months and found this one at a steep discount. I don’t dislike it, just never wows me, or develops into something all that interesting.

Cedar Essence by Ferrari

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I’m not sure that I have samples of every single Ferrari cologne that they’ve released, but I definitely have most of them. As such, you can expect more of them, in the very near future once I am done writing them all up.

In this post, I want to take a closer look at Cedar Essence, which is a part of the Ferrari Essence line of scents. What does this one smell like? How does it perform? Is it even worth a purchase?

What does Cedar Essence by Ferrari Smell Like?

Notes include: orange, peppermint, lime, watermelon, cedar leaves, ocean sprays, cedar, amber, patchouli, coffee beans

Click here to try: Ferrari Cedar Essence Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

Wow. This is such a unique and sort of baffling fragrance. Cedar Essence opens with an oceanic salty blast mixed with watermelon, peppermint, and lime.

This gives it a cold fruity aroma that has a really crisp spice to it. Add to that, the cedar which is stable throughout and there is a woody base with all of these notes blended around.

Ferrari Cedar Essence is a very marine and open blue water scent. It isn’t overly salty like many other oceanic scents, but it’s there. It’s such an odd cologne, it’s almost like they tried for something like Creed’s Millesime Imperial, and then just added a bunch of other stuff out of left field.

As it dries down, it becomes more of a normal sort of cologne. I get an amber-laden cedar, mint, and the watermelon with a marine accord. It’s smooth and refreshing with a bit of spice.

However, the cedar note isn’t as prominent as one would expect from the name. It’s there but I was expecting something a lot more woodsy, not a fragrance that is really oceanic/aquatic.

That’s essentially what I pick up from Cedar Essence. Not much development, oddly named, but interesting with what it brings forth.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage of Cedar Essence actually starts out fairly strong. It isn’t insanely heavy but I knew it was there the whole time I was wearing it. I weakened pretty quickly, as the longevity isn’t the best, but during those first few hours it was solid.

During the rest of the wear, it’s light and doesn’t project very far from the skin. It burns bright up top, but that’s short-lived.

I think I got about 5 usable hours from this Ferrari, maybe 2.5 before it became a complete skin scent. A few more hours with this hanging around would’ve been nice.

The Ferrari colognes are usually decent, but not amazing with how long they last, and this is a great example of that.

This strikes me as a nice spring/summer casual cologne. Pretty nondescript at times, but pleasant and has an upbeat feeling to it, within the aroma. I could see wearing Cedar Essence with a t-shirt and shorts during the daytime.

Overall Impressions of Cedar Essence

Overall, do I recommend this cologne? I honestly can’t say. I really don’t know what to make of it, at times, as the notes are such an odd combination. It has some really unique moments and then at other times, this cologne seems completely generic.

I don’t love it, but I have moments where I think it’s pretty good. The fact that it never fully won me over, makes me want to say that it’s a pass for me, since I’m not ambivalent about any other fragrance that I truly do like.

That opening is a nice blue and marine sort of fragrance. I like the breeze, peppermint, watermelon, and lime. It’s a unique and fairly nice smelling blend versus what you get with many fragrances.

The amber and cedar part is also pretty good, but it’s not as intriguing.

Plus, the performance is pretty mediocre. If that weren’t the case, a cheap bottle of this Ferrari cologne, might be worth having around.

This scent threw me for a loop, as I thought I’d be getting a super rich/fresh woody scent. Sort of, but the mint, lime, watermelon, and aquatic notes weren’t so expected here.

Eternity for Men Flame by Calvin Klein

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With my latest batch of sample fragrances, I received a couple of Calvin Klein colognes, from their ever-expanding Eternity lineup. This entry will be about, Eternity for Men Flame. I think that this is a limited release, as I haven’t seen it very many places, and is also somewhat overlapping with the release of Eternity EDP. Anyway, what does Flame smell like? How long does it last? Is it worth a try?

What Does Eternity Flame for Men Smell Like?

eternity

Notes include: mandarin, amber, resin, pineapple, leather, and rosemary

Click here to try: Calvin Klein Eternity Flame Eau De Toilette for Men, 1 Fl Oz

My Full Wear Review

Before we get into my review of Eternity for Men Flame, let’s see what Calvin Klein says about it: Ignited. Intense. Masculine. The scent of smoldering resins enhanced by a surge of mandarin and fresh aromatic notes. 

So, the official sample card that came with my Eternity Flame vial, says that this fragrance contains mandarin orange. All of the websites that I checked, say that it contains pineapple, with no mention of the mandarin.

Which is it? I actually do think that it’s both. This fragrance gets compared to L’Homme Intense by YSL, due to the amber and orange blossom, in that mix. To my nose, they don’t smell exactly alike, and the difference does seem to be a pineapple-like smell.

As such, I’m going to assume that this contains both fruits. Flame starts off with that fruit blend, it’s warm and sweet, flanked by amber and a resinous quality.

After the first few minutes, I really start to pick up on the herbal spice of rosemary. With the resin and rosemary, I think it creates an aroma that is distinct from L’Homme Parfum Intense, but somewhat similar.

Once the initial phase passes, the rosemary becomes less of a factor, and is replaced by both leather and a strengthening amber note. The Calvin Klein cologne, still has that fruity sweetness on the top, but it’s not as sharp as it had been in the first 20 minutes or so.

What I’m ultimately left with for the rest of the wear, is a amber-laden leather fragrance, with more of a pineapple finish than mandarin orange. Which is good, since I like pineapple’s scent more so than mandarin.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection on Eternity Flame is really good for the first hour or so, and then, weakening thereafter.

It will project around 5-6 feet from the skin, at its height. Not super powerful, but a solid fragrance. It’s also not too heavy feeling.

For me, I could only get this to last 4-5 hours on my skin. I sprayed three times in the same place and got that result. Then, I did multiple sprays around the body, on another wear. It was still producing 4-5 hours.

The performance wasn’t great, but once these bottles get cheap, it might be a worthwhile one to have around.

Seasonally, not necessarily just a wintertime fragrance. It could easily venture into spring, as it isn’t too heavy. I wouldn’t venture into the heat, with Flame. Autumn through early spring, depending on where you life.

I could see this being used more as a casual, date night, or something to wear in the nightlife. It’s not a beast, but it will give you enough projection to be useful in those scenarios. Not really a formal cologne, but Flame is good for wearing around elsewhere.

Overall Impression of Eternity for Men Flame

Do I like this cologne? It’s nice enough, but not amazing. If I’m doing a comparison, I’d still wear L’homme Parfum Intense, over this. However, this is already starting to be available for around $30 a bottle. With that kind of price point, it’s definitely a pretty good value.

I like the opening fruitiness, pineapple and mandarin, but I’m not too enthralled by the rosemary note. I love amber and leather, so, this is going to be at the very least decent to me. Here, it’s more somewhat enjoyable versus being a love for me. I don’t know why exactly.

The performance is pretty subpar with Flame. It’s not going to be an all day wear. You’ll probably have to reapply sometime during the day.

If all this sounds appealing to you, I would say that it’s a buy, at that super discounted price. Not one I’d pay full admission for, however.