Cologne Reviews

Brit Rhythm for Men by Burberry

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I am a fan of Burberry fragrances for everyday wear, especially for the younger crowd, as this design firm makes affordable choices which smell very good and perform well for many different occasions. Today, I want to focus on Burberry Brit Rhythm for Men.

This is another addition to the great run of scents produced by Burberry, albeit one that might not enjoy very much esteem from niche fragrance collectors. In this post, I want to take a bit of a close look at Burberry Brit Rhythm and review its pros and cons.

Also check out: Best Smelling Burberry Fragrances for Men

What does Brit Rhythm for Men Smell Like?

burberry rhythm

Notes include: basil, verbena, cardamom, juniper berries, leather, tonka bean, incense

Click here to try: BURBERRY Brit Rhythm Men Eau De Toilette

My Full Wear Review

Brit Rhythm is a nice change of pace from many colognes that are geared more towards younger men. A lot of those types of scents are extremely sweet or fruity, which isn’t bad, but isn’t always what we want as guys to smell like.

This isn’t to say that Burberry Brit Rhythm is wholly unique, but it does deliver a beautiful scent best suited for autumn and the early spring months.

While I’m on the topic of its uniqueness, it does have similar qualities to fragrances such as Chanel Allure Homme Sport, Gucci Guilty, and Armani Code.

Again, those are all great scents but Rhythm is available for a much cheaper price in most cases. This is a cologne which screams value. Plus, it doesn’t completely mimic any one of them. Just shared characteristics.

It opens for me with the lead leather note, juniper berries, tonka, and verbena. It starts out sweet, but again, it never comes across as that sweet to my nose. The scent itself is masculine, with its leathery notes, but has an underlying energy which makes it both intriguing and attractive.

Its aroma is fresh with a touch of sweetness, though, rooted in a cedar woodsy base with patchouli thrown in. An energetic outdoorsy smell, thanks to a cedar note.

The dry down, is where it really transforms from that opening of tonka and juniper to more of a leather and patchouli blend with some tonka and herbal undertones. It’s all very fresh and quite wearable.

It has a drier aroma, coming from the base, but it maintains some level of creaminess or sweetness to it thanks to that tonka note. Which, at times has a powdered scent as well. But, that isn’t too prominent to my nose.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Rhythm projects itself well and doesn’t overwhelm your own senses or that of those around you. Not a bomb, but solid, and won’t go unnoticed. It’s above average, so no real complaints. It isn’t one to leave a huge scent trail behind, unless you went wild with the sprays.

It lasts fairly well also, I’d say 6-8 hours, which isn’t outstanding but works just fine for most guy’s purposes. With an inexpensive bottle, you’ll get your money’s worth.

It really depends on the day and the climate, as to what I get from Rhythm. Either way, those last few hours aren’t going to be strong.

It isn’t too heavy of a fragrance. So, you will be able to get use out of it beyond just late autumn and into winter. I wouldn’t be using it in the heat. Though, it the more moderate temperatures of spring, Rhythm works just fine.

This fragrance is also a versatile one which can be worn out, at work, school, or anywhere really which boosts it higher in my book.

Brit Rhythm is pleasant and attractive in a non-descript way. People really won’t know what it is, but it is a simple grab, that can get complements.

It doesn’t stray too immature or too serious. As far as age range goes, it casts a pretty wide net.

Overall Impressions of Brit Rhythm

If you are looking for an inexpensive scent that is fresh, masculine, and great for everyday wear then I would say Burberry Brit Rhythm is definitely a solid option.

Younger guys on a budget, could do a lot worse than this cologne, but this really is a good performer at this pricing point.

Though, I admittedly enjoy the original Brit more. If you’re a guy who wants something really unique or a bit more advanced, there is plenty else out there. However, this Burberry flanker is nothing to scoff at, and actually pretty darn good.

The leather, tonka, and woodiness are great together and give you plenty to enjoy. It’s not a cologne that screams for attention, but does a whole lot well. No major weaknesses, but not spectacular either.

Uomo Acqua EDT by Valentino

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With my last batch of samples, I picked up a couple more flanker fragrances, from the Valentino line. Today, I am going to be getting into Uomo Acqua, and sharing my experience testing this scent out. How does it smell? What’s the sillage like? Does it last a long time? Is it worth a buy?

What Does Uomo Acqua Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, citron, iris, leather, green tomato, sage, patchouli

Click here to try: Valentino Uomo Acqua By Valentino for Men – 4.2 Oz Edt Spray, 4.2 Oz

valentino acqua review

My Full Wear Review

Before we get into my personal review, let’s see what Valentino has to say about this fragrance: A fresh and elegant fragrance with a clash of scents that is so very Valentino. The top notes reveal the aromatic freshness of an Italian garden with a citrus hint of mandarin and citron. The invigorating hook is soon offset by the dark and velvety depth of iridescent leather. The perfect harmony of freshness and intensity, embodying the subtle balance of Italian elegance.

Immediately upon spraying, I was in love with this fragrance. Uomo, had one of my favorite opening acts ever, and now Uomo Acqua takes a similar path. While this is of course, going to share some common traits with the rest of the Valentino Uomo line, Acqua takes its own path. It’s an awesome one.

The top notes of mandarin and citron are great, but the key here is the tomato leaf note. It’s not used in that many mainstream fragrances, but it is actually a gem of an ingredient.

I remember the tomato leaf aroma from Adidas Moves, which I used to wear back in high school, but it is way better in Acqua.

The tomato leaf and citrus notes are joined by the iris note, which presents itself a bit differently than in the other Uomo fragrances. It is super fresh, citrus, green, and like how they described as a garden.

There is also a bit of sage, in the beginning, which only adds to the freshness and give Uomo Acqua a hint of herbal spice. That note, is however, fairly short lived.

As it moves along, the scent becomes more about the iris, leather, and tomato. It’s smoother, with less of the overt citrus coming through, it’s more of a hint from this point forward. The dry down stays pretty linear, as this isn’t a complex cologne at all, but there is some patchouli in here.

Acqua isn’t an aquatic fragrance in the usual sense, so, don’t go into trying this expecting it to be. The name is isn’t ideal, but think of it as a warm weather flanker of the Uomo lineup. The juiciness/watery feeling of the tomato and citrus is probably as close to being aquatic as you’ll get.

Sillage and Longevity

Projection wise, the sillage on Uomo Acqua, is really solid for the first 30 minutes. Then, is hangs quite close to the skin. Admittedly, I was bummed out that I didn’t get a huge sillage from this stuff, as I love it. But other people have been noticing it, so, it can’t be that ‘weak’.

The longevity is better than you’d think, even with the light sillage. I wore this out on a Saturday night, to bars with indoor/outdoor spaces, and with both high heat and humidity.

I could still smell it on my skin, when I got home really late. It must have been 6-7 hours. Sure, it wasn’t strong, but it was still clearly detectable.

Other times, just wearing it around the house, I might squeeze an extra hour of wear from this Valentino. Not amazing, but it’s pretty good.

When Should it Be Worn?

This is built for the warmer weather. Spring/summer, this is probably going to be a go to, for me. With the floral aspects of this fragrance, the springtime seems to be the absolute ideal use case with Acqua.

You can wear it for any occasion, from formal to casual. It’s light enough to fit in and not really cause any problems by being overwhelming or having any offensive notes to it.

People really seem to like it, especially early on, when the citrus is popping. Uomo Acqua is one that will draw complements. It’s super fresh and quite sexy.

Overall Impressions

This one has become one of my favorite scents, over the past week or so. The opening, is absolutely amazing, to my nose. I cannot get enough of it. I plan on buying a full bottle, in the near future.

That being said, I do wish it was stronger. I wish Valentino would make an intense version, but not make too many changes to the formula, and have it smell like this.

This is a great option for the warmer months, when you don’t want something that is oceanic or beachy. It retains some of what is great about Uomo, but, changes enough to fit the spring/summer months The tomato leaf, citrus, iris, and leather are just about perfect.

Is it a buy? For me, it is. Bottles are inexpensive enough, to where double or triple spraying won’t break the bank. You’ll have to put on more, as the power, isn’t ideal. Though, the smell, absolutely is. I think that this is now my favorite Uomo cologne.

Quantum by James Bond 007

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There are of course a plethora of celebrity fragrances on the market today. One interesting aspect of the market, is that there are also fictional characters with their own line of scents. James Bond, the uber-famous British secret agent character, is such an example of this.

There are plenty of Bond 007 colognes that have been released by Eon Productions, but today I am going to focus on one, Quantum.

What does Quantum Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, juniper berries, sandalwood, bergamot, and violet leaf

Click here to try: James Bond 007 Quantum Eau de Toilette Spray, 4.2 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Quantum is a mix of juniper berries and bergamot on top of a leathery base. Honestly, it reminds me of a slightly different version of the ‘grape bubblegum’ aroma that is associated with 1 Million. Maybe even Polo Red, but without the same level of citrus sharpness.

The leather note, however, just isn’t all that impressive to me and while it has some appeal it just isn’t rich enough. It’s a light leather, that doesn’t really grab you or stand out.

After a ten or so minute opening, it shifts a bit with the sandalwood note becoming more prominent. Still, it is still a smooth scent with fruity sweet highlights and a very slight spice to it. After this point, it’s pretty much linear.

Mostly, juniper, some leather, and sandalwood. Simple and straightforward. The blend is solid and the aroma itself is pretty easy to wear and enjoyable.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s toward the weaker end of things. It’s light to moderate.

Also, the performance isn’t great. Somewhere between 1-2 hours of decent power and then a sharp decline to a skin scent thereafter. It’s not going to leave a scent trail and the projection from the skin will be maybe a few feet for the majority of the wear.

That second stage of being a skin scent also only lasts a few hours. In total, around 3-4 hours on my skin for the entirety of the wear.

I guess this would be considered a casual scent. It has a nice appeal to it, as in, it is actually somewhat sexy, in my opinion. That is, if the performance was better, it could find a use as a cheapy. The versatility is pretty good, as this doesn’t smell like a completely ‘cheap’ fragrance.

Seasonally, I’d keep it out of the high heat of the summer months, but it’s fine in basically any other climate that you can throw at it.

Overall Impressions of Quantum

Overall, would I recommend Quantum? Not really. I like the smell somewhat and I wouldn’t be completely opposed to it, if the longevity was decent.

That being said, it isn’t, and while the fragrance itself smells good, it doesn’t really blow me away. Quantum is fairly mediocre. Plus, there are better James Bond colognes available.

The juniper and bergamot mix up top is probably the highlight of the entire thing. With the sandalwood and leather sitting underneath, Quantum has some personality going for it. But after that point, it’s just okay.

The leather isn’t great. Kind of just weak and not a good example of that note.

The whole line of 007 colognes is pretty bad with the performance, however. This one is a perfect example of that being the case.

It is a very inexpensive fragrance, but not one that provides any real value. A high level of performance could’ve make it a worthwhile investment. In reality, it’s just not.

So, unless you have to have a bottle because it’s a 007 scent, I’d pass.

Venetian Bergamot by Tom Ford

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Continuing through my review of a whole lot of Tom Ford fragrances, we have a 2015 release, entitled: Venetian Bergamot. I want to take a closer look at this fragrance after I’ve been testing it out for a while. How does it smell? What are the notes? How does it perform? Is it worth a purchase?

What does Venetian Bergamot Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, pink pepper, black pepper, amber, sandalwood, tonka bean, ylang ylang, ginger, magnolia, gardenia, cedar

Click here to try: TOM Ford Private Blend Venetian Bergamot EDP Spray 3.4 Oz / 100 Ml Sealed

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Venetian Bergamot obviously features that familiar citrus bergamot opening, but this one definitely doesn’t take the familiar route with it. Not only is there a spice to the aroma, there are also floral notes, which create something that is quite unique.

However, even with the other elements being involved from the jump, it is still mostly the juicy and somewhat sour citrus smell with sandalwood peaking through. The start is much more of a tropical scent than what you get during the rest of the wear and I find it really enjoyable.

As it dries down further, Venetian Bergamot, becomes less of a bergamot scent and the floral notes being to take over the composition.

This is mainly gardenia with some ylang ylang. So, at this point it is the floral notes, pink and black pepper, sandalwood, and a fading bergamot. It is smooth and creamy with bright elements that really perk up the senses.

I think that the most interesting aspect of this Tom Ford fragrance is the spicy notes in here. They aren’t heavy spices however, the white ginger is a nice addition to the warm pink pepper, and the hint of sharp black pepper sprinkled throughout.

This is what keeps the fragrance in the unisex category, even as the white floral notes pull it toward the feminine side of things.

What I ultimately get from Venetian Bergamot when all is said and done is, a gardenia/ylang ylang combo sitting on top of sandalwood and cedar, with a mix of bergamot and spices floating around this core composition.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise it’ll be in the 3-6 foot range. The sillage of this one is pretty moderate, and works down into something light and close to the skin. So, the first 3-4 hours, it will be a moderate scent. Then for the rest of the time, VB is much more of a skin scent.

It does last in the 7-8 hour range on my skin, so the longevity ain’t too shabby. For a lot of that wear, it’ll be the woods with some light floral touches. The bergamot doesn’t completely last all that time, but the blend is fairly creamy and has a clean soapy quality.

Seasonally, Venetian Bergamot is one for the spring and summer months. Between the citrus and floral notes, it begs to be worn in the warm weather. As I said, it is unisex that leans more towards the feminine side of things, but this is still completely safe to wear for men.

It’s classy and has an expensive air about it. Not really a sexy fragrance but one that smells nice and can be worn in dressy casual or more upscale scenarios. It is completely office safe.

This one is better worn when dressed up or for at least more semi-formal occasions during the spring and summer.

Overall Impressions of Venetian Bergamot

Overall, do I like Venetian Bergamot? I do like it. It is a bit too floral for my taste and I wish it stayed closer to what it is at the opening, rather than, drying down to gardenia, ylang ylang, and magnolia.

That being said, it is still a very nice perfume, that has a unique scent and decent performance.

I do like the bergamot, ginger, and spiciness of that opening. With the name, I was expecting to get more of a pure bergamot, but it ends up with a greater use of the gardenia. That’s fine, just not what I was expecting when I first tried Venetian Bergamot.

It’s by no means a beast in terms of its performance, so at this price point it might be a pass. Though, it isn’t entirely terrible either. Value is okay, but that’s your call.

However, if you’re looking for a citrus or floral fragrance and want to try something different, Venetian Bergamot is worthy of consideration. It’s not one of the top tier Tom Ford perfumes, but it’s in the upper half or even third, for sure.

Prada L’Homme Intense EDP

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So, today I have another entry from the Prada line of men’s fragrances, and one of the flankers to the original Prada L’Homme: Prada L’Homme Intense. In this post, I am going to cover what’s in it, how it smells, when it should be worn, how long it lasts, and if it is even worth a buy?

What does L’Homme Intense by Prada Smell Like?

Notes included: amber, leather, tonka bean, iris, sandalwood, patchouli

Click here to try: Prada L’homme Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

Prada L’homme Intense starts off with that familiar iris note, with its powdery aroma, and a warm amber plus smoothly rich leather. It’s very nice and has a noticeable darker profile than does the original L’Homme.

This scent is clean, warm, and sweet with the inclusion of a roasted tonka bean note for good measure. I like how dry the composition is and how the amber sort of soaks the iris.

Further along in the wear, we get to hit a base of sandalwood and patchouli. I really appreciate how subtle these later notes are and how they simply enhance the overall vibe of an already fantastic smelling cologne.

It’s really at this time, that I am reminded of Dior Homme and Dior Homme Eau, as L’Homme Intense fits right in line with that series. However, this is stronger on the iris and doesn’t have the leather to the same extent, nor any cacao. The overlap isn’t too extreme.

What it ultimately dries down to is an incredibly rich blend of mainly the iris and tonka bean. It’s so classy and smooth, with the leather and amber, being the next most powerful notes.

Though, I’d put the amber at number three. From here, it is pretty linear, and doesn’t develop much beyond this.

The powdery iris and the mix of woods, sweet notes, and leather are truly fantastic together. Not a super complicated fragrance in its development, but is definitely enjoyable throughout.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I find the sillage to be on the upper end of moderate. It’s not a heavy scent, but it projects well, just not crazy so. The performance is very good, regardless, and you or other people will notice this juice on you.

The longevity for me hits around 9 hours, which is great for just about any purposes. Not exactly top tier level, that goes on for seemingly ever, but this Prada isn’t going to disappoint. Truly, for most purpose Intense is going to work perfectly.

Seasonally, L’Homme Intense strikes me as a cold weather scent, with the ability to be worn in more moderate temperatures. I do feel it is a bit more limited than the original L’Homme, in this regard, but if you want to wear it at its absolute best, is should be colder.

This Prada cologne, does have a more mature profile, which isn’t to say that younger guys cannot wear it. However, it’s one that works extremely well dressed up, or out for an evening on the town. It is fresh and elegant and doesn’t have any of the overly youthful sweetness.

It is an excellent choice for men in their mid-20s and above, is completely safe for work, while being completely attractive enough for dates.

Overall Impressions of L’Homme Intense

Overall do I like Prada L’Homme Intense? I think it is an amazing fragrance. It’s got enough similarities to the original to be familiar, while also adding new elements, to stand on its own.

It does occupy that same sort of space that the Dior Homme’s of the world do, which might prevent me from getting a full bottle in the near future.

Though, since Dior has reformulated Dior Homme in 2020, maybe this would be a nice alternative.

This Prada is a clean, classy scent and the iris note is simply great. It’s not one to get, if you don’t really enjoy floral or powdery fragrances. The leather and patchouli rough it up and masculinize it, but there is a very good balance at play here.

But, I really have no negative things to say about Intense. I enjoyed wearing it thoroughly. This is an elegant scent, that performs well, and will appeal to a wide variety of people. Yes, there is plenty of overlap here, but still an outstanding scent to put on.