Cologne Reviews

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.

L’Homme Parfum Intense by Yves Saint Laurent

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I just got a hold of something like 40 new sample vials of fragrances for both men and women…sooooo I’ll be getting to a lot of reviews on the site here in the near future. First up to the plate, is a scent by Yves Saint Laurent that I have yet to try, L’Homme Parfum Intense.

Being a pretty big fan of YSL colognes, I knew that I had to grab this one and try it out. As usual, I’m going to cover what’s in it, how it smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not I think this scent is worth a buy.

What does L’Homme Parfum Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: cedar, orange blossom, suede accord, lemon, bergamot, amber, black pepper

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent L’homme Parfum Intense Men Edp Spray 3.4 OZ

My Full Wear Review

It has been a while since I’ve worn the original L’Homme, so,  I was interested to see how this one stacked up versus that one, even if my memories of it are kind of hazy. Right off the bat, I’m drawn to Parfum Intense, as I usually dig amber scented fragrances.

It’s dark, spicy, and floral. Don’t let the orange blossom fool you, because this cologne definitely isn’t girly, in the slightest. Maybe unisex, however.

It opens with a bright citrus blend of lemon, orange, and of course orange blossom. There is a spiciness from pepper and it’s all swimming in a warm/sweet amber note.

A few minutes in, I really get the orange blossom as the main note, taking over for the lemon combination. The scent is very floral with an increasingly smooth profile.

I think it might be the suede/leather that is combining with the orange blossom, to give it that soft powdery scent, that illuminates the background.

To the best of my recollection, Parfum Intense almost inverses the order of some of the notes and let’s the cedar become more prominent yet retains that beautiful citrus note that adds almost a boozy quality to it.

I was trying to figure out why I was into this cologne so much when I sprayed, then I went and grabbed some of my Armani Code Profumo, and found my answer.

Leather, amber, and orange blossom are the common notes between these two scents, although the Armani is highlighted by tonka bean. That tonka bean, does really help to set them apart and creates a vastly different effect. Sweeter, heavier.

L’Homme Parfum Intense is so smooth, rich, and warm. It’s a sweet floral that’s backed by wood and masculine notes that give it a fully developed identity.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it can be towards the strong side, if you over-spray it. But for most guys, one or two spray should be enough to make it more than noticeable. It’s not a bomb, but it can be a handful up top.

My one complaint, is the longevity, which is decent but not a complete beast. I wore this out to a bar with an outdoor patio area and while it was still there after 5-6 hours of wear, it had become mostly a skin scent.

Other times that I’ve tested Parfum Intense, it performed basically in the same manner. By that fifth hour, it is mostly on its last legs, and not really going to go beyond that.

This is another gem for the colder weather months, but I wore it that evening in mid-70s degree weather and it seemed fine to me. I wouldn’t wear it when it’s hot outside because it’d probably turn to complete shit, but it worked for this particular summer night.

Parfum Intense, seems like it’s cologne with some versatility in terms of its wear. Office, casual, or on a date and this stuff will shine. It’s quite attractive and sexy.

It’s not a cologne for every guy, as not everyone is into such a heavy amber and orange blossom note being present, in their scents. That being said, it will set you apart from the masses, and the endless array of ‘blue’ colognes nowadays.

Overall Impression of L’Homme Parfum Intense

Overall, would I recommend this? Absolutely. I actually like it better than the La Nuit L’Intense flanker sample that I also got (which is good) and I also think that I prefer it over La Nuit L’Homme Eau Electrique, which I enjoyed thoroughly.

This is a really great flanker fragrance to the original. It’s got a rather unique scent and is a fantastic use of floral notes in a men’s fragrance. Again, it’s best for the autumn or winter months, but I do really like it.

The amber, orange blossom, with a dark and spiced edge gives you something a bit different for a men’s cologne. I wish the performance was a tad better, but this is a really nice example of a floral scent for guys.

YSL even seems to have taken some cues from this one, with their more recent ladies’ release, Libre Intense. This one doesn’t seem to be around anymore, but Parfum Intense was a nice fragrance. Had its limitations, sure, but was different from most other men’s options.

Made to Measure by Gucci

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For today’s fragrance review, I have a scent from Gucci, Made to Measure Pour Homme. This one was released back in 2012, enjoyed some moderate success, but mostly flew under the radar as a product.

I have worn this one a few times, over the past number of months, and will now share my thoughts and experiences with it. How does it smell? What are the notes? How’s the performance? Is it worth a try?

What does Made to Measure by Gucci Smell Like?

Notes include: plum, nutmeg, juniper berries, water lily, leather, lavender, bergamot, amber, cinnamon, patchouli, labdanum

Click here to try: Gucci Made to Measure Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Made to Measure is a smooth spicy smell, with some sweet fruit notes, and floral ingredients playing a major role. It reminds me somewhat of Guilty Pour Homme, not exactly in the aroma, but just the general category of fragrance.

This is a very Gucci cologne, so to speak. Even if I didn’t know the name and smelled this fragrance, I’d say, “Oh, that’s definitely a Gucci fragrance.” They even categorize this on the sample card as a ‘spicy Oriental’ fragrance. Though, I think that’s oversold, especially the spiciness.

To my nose, the fruit notes, aren’t that distinct. I get the impression of both plum and bergamot, but they don’t truly stand out. When I compare the plum note in this one, versus something like 1 Million Lucky, the presence of that ingredient is entirely different.

What I do pick up in the opening, is nutmeg, juniper berries, and lavender/water lily. It’s a fresh and light spice, that is very floral, for a men’s fragrance.

As it moves further along, Made to Measure, loses much of the bergamot and plum mix that it had at the start. Juniper moves into that role fully, and its freshness, plays well off an emerging cinnamon spice.

At this point, the floral notes are dominant, but there is an added leather note at the base. It keeps things masculine, but doesn’t totally intrude on the composition. Also, I can smell a bit of the amber, but that’s extremely light.

In the end, it is a smooth floral fragrance with a fresh spiciness. There are hints of sweetness, leather, and fruitiness. However, they are just dancing in the background of the aroma.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this stuff is light. The sillage isn’t going to venture much more than an arm’s distance from your skin. At least, with normal application. For me, it wasn’t as strong as many others from the Gucci line.

Personally, I’d spray Made to Measure more than many other fragrances, that I own. That way, I’d be able to get some better performance from it.

While it is a skin scent, the longevity isn’t bad. I can get 6-7 hours from it. Though, that is with putting on a greater amount. Any aspect of its performance is probably average at best.

Seasonally, it’s extremely versatile. It’s not too heavy and not something like an aquatic, which will feel out of place in the winter months. You can wear this year round and it’s low key enough to wear for any occasion.

Made to Measure isn’t a beast mode type of nightclub scent, so, you may want to go with something else, if you want that sort of bold power. Nonetheless, this Gucci is a solid daily wear.

Overall Impressions of Made to Measure

Overall, do I like Made to Measure? Yes, I think that it is a very pleasant fragrance, but nothing amazing. Again, this would be good as a daily wear, for a guy who wants to smell attractive but not have to put too much thought into what he is wearing.

It’s fresh and clean, has a light spice, and enough sweetness to bring it all together. The strength of this cologne, could be much better, but you can double up the sprays and be fine. It’s not the greatest scent ever, but it does smell quite good, and is serviceable as a whole.

Honestly, if you really want a Gucci cologne, there are better options than this (Guilty Intense or Black)…which is why I won’t be buying a bottle.

I like the opening act, especially. Made to Measure certainly has some interesting facets, can be fairly enjoyable at times, but is overall just kind of middling. It doesn’t do anything extremely well, but it’s not terrible either.

Update: This one has been discontinued for a long while now and it’s become pretty scarce on online discount retailers. I do see some bottles floating around, but the price is too high for Made to Measure.

I wouldn’t bother with this one, unless you already loved it in the past and want it in your rotation again. Or, if you happen to see a cheap bottle for sale somewhere and want to give it a try.

Dark Lord by Kilian

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Dark Lord is a part of ‘The Smokes’ collection by Kilian. I’ve had a sample of this for probably over a year, at this point, just sitting in a box waiting to be tested. Well, I finally got around to putting this fragrance through its paces, in order to do my full review. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Dark Lord Smell Like?

Notes include: pepper, jasmine, vetiver, leather, bergamot, rum, and more

Click here to try: Dark Lord

My Full Review

Tried Dark Lord? Leave your own rating and review in the comments!

Let’s see how Kilian describes this: DARK LORD ‘EX TENEBRIS LUX’ is a gentleman of the night. Meet him in the most surprising of circumstances and his mystery slowly unfolds: A head-twisting mix of shadows and light…

Dark Lord opens up with a fairly dense and intense aroma. Bergamot gives it a bit of bright citrus up top, but this is offset by peppery and smoky rum, and a rather dirty-ish leather that permeates through the entire wear.

The booziness of the rum is there, but it isn’t a completely soaked feeling during the wear.

Jasmine, however, may be the strongest player in the opening stage of Dark Lord. It sits right in the middle flanked by the other notes, giving Dark Lord an early floral scent.

For me, the spiciness, is really only in the opening act. From there, it takes on an earthier and woodier quality for the rest of the wear. Kilian says that the pepper is one of the key notes, but on my skin at least, that’s not the case.

In fact, I get a lot more vetiver, cedar, and other general woods than I ever do the pepper.

As we move forward, the jasmine will start to lose its position within the composition. The leather and vetiver become pretty strong here and I’m still getting the smokiness sans the spice.

Dark, earthy, and has an herbal or medicinal sort of finish to it.

The latter stage is leather, cypress, vetiver and the faded remnants of cedar and jasmine. Cypress really climbs the ladder and contributes towards the tail end. It really doesn’t do all that much for me early in the wear, then, it’s basically the same weighting as the leather.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Whoa, this fragrance really packs a punch. It’s a room filler, but not the most insane levels that I’ve come across, though it gets up there.

Dark Lord is an example of a little going a long way. Scent trails will be left for sure and the projection from the skin  while you’re just standing there can be picked up from far away.

Not ever going to be mistaken for a weak scent.

The longevity is also top notch. On my skin, it has gone for at least 11 hours, each time that I have sampled it. Other times, a few hours further than that. The real strength of Dark Lord seems to be its performance.

Seasonally, I’d save this one for autumn and wintertime. I couldn’t imaging breaking this Kilian cologne out in the summer heat.

It’s also one that’ll be best served for the nighttime. Lounges, bars, maybe dates…for the right type of guy.

Office wear? No. Younger guys wearing to school? No. This is a masculine beast. Confident and bold, not a daily wear for confined spaces.

Is it sexy? There will be those who find it sexy. This kind of  fragrance can really go either way with the reactions. Some will detest it, while others swoon for it.

Overall Impressions of Dark Lord

Overall, do I like Dark Lord? Somewhat. This isn’t the type of fragrance that I particularly enjoy wearing, on a personal level. That being said, this is a pretty good example, and wasn’t something that I hated wearing.

The opening is pretty intense and is probably my least favorite aspect. I like Dark Lord more so, when it settles, and the leather takes more control. That with the woods and vetiver is nice and smooth.

It reminds me in some aspects of Ombre Leather (the jasmine and earthiness), though I enjoy that one way more. Also, Gucci Guilty Absolute is a pretty close comparison.

This isn’t a mass appeal sort of fragrance, though. Those who dig this sort of scent are going to love it, but a good percentage of people aren’t going to feel the same way. But, if you like Dark Lord, it will reward you with performance.

To me, it’s not a must buy at Kilian prices. More one that you should sample first to see if it appeals to you. Then, commit to making a full purchase. Otherwise, you might get stuck with a sparsely used paper weight on your table.