Cologne Reviews

La Nuit de L’Homme by YSL

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I wanted to start a whole new swath of fragrance reviews on this site and thought that I’d start with an offering from one of my favorite design houses, Yves Saint Laurent. YSL has several classic scents under their belts for both men and women but it is not content on relying on old staples and continues to crank out great colognes.

In this post, I want to take a closer look at the highly popular La Nuit de L’Homme, and give my opinion as to whether or not it is worth a try. Other YSL Reviews: L’Homme Libre, Body Kouros, L’Homme

What does La Nuit de L’Homme Smell Like?

Notes include: cardamom, bergamot, vetiver, lavender, cedar

Try it out: Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3-Ounce

Full Wear Review

The first impressions that I gather from La Nuit is how utterly perfect it seems for nighttime wear. I mean, there are plenty of great smelling colognes, but this is just built for a night on the town and for getting close to the ladies.

It’s a sweet scent that doesn’t venture off into the super candy-like aroma, rather, it remains steadfast in its masculinity. Sweet, but the opening is a spicy freshness, with dry and woody undertones. That will shift, as we move along, but the opening brings it.

At the top,  you are definitely getting hit with the cardamom right away. This note will often be a supporting player, but in La Nuit de l’Homme, it is the main attraction.

At first, it is paired with a very light citrus note of bergamot, which gives the composition a bit of brightness. However, the overall impression is one of warmth, and super freshness.

After the first few minutes, the lavender steps up big time, along with the cedar. So, you get a mix of cardamom and lavender (cardamom still the strongest), with fresh woody aromas emanating from the base.

It pretty much stays like this for the duration of the rest of the wear, but a nice vetiver does begin to peak through to about the same level as the cedar. La Nuit is a warm slightly sweet and slightly spicy fragrance, that has a fresh cleanliness, and a dark character.

For a time, La Nuit is quite powdery and has a really attractive aroma, as it dries down. I like the opening of this scent, but the dry down is fantastic.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s not a fill the room scent. It is subtle, but still noticeable, to those in your immediate presence. The sillage starts off moderate, but goes light after about an hour or two. Don’t expect a powerhouse from this or the other scents in the L’Homme lineup of colognes.

That initial punch is still pretty solid, though. Just nowadays, it doesn’t keep to that same level for all that long.

I don’t find its longevity to be anything spectacular either, it will usually last for what you need it to do (6 hours of solid performance and then maybe 2 more that it has faded a bit). For me, it has been a consistent 6-8 hour scent over the years, including the last time I recently tried it.

I know, there have been reformulations, and some think it is now weaker. I’m not sure, but again, never been a beast for me.

Update: I recently tried a newer batch of this and it was around 5 hours of wear. That’s pretty bad for a designer fragrance. The scent is absolutely still great, but I’ve really got to spray the heck out of my bottle whenever I wear it. Not too big of a deal, but La Nuit has taken a step back over the years.

It is such a balanced offering and I think that is part of the reason that it is so good. It smooth, not overpowering, and it has an alluring mystery behind it. I would say that this is a date night type of cologne and not a bold nightclub standout such as 1 Million.

Also, where 1 Million is more energetic and youthful, La Nuit De L’Homme is classy and refined. Though, it is quite versatile beyond that application.

You can wear it casually or to work as well. It’ll fit in just fine. Seasonally, best in colder to temperate weather, not a summertime scent.

It is among the sexiest men’s fragrances out there, because it always seems to draw compliments. It’s just been consistent for me over the years, with how it draws attention, even in its lighter state.

That seems to be once it settles down into its more powdery state and less during its more intense opening.

La Nuit de L’Homme is one that has been the signature scent for many guys, since its release. It can still play that role, just not to the same degree now, with the performance issues.

Overall Impressions of La Nuit

Overall, though, I have to recommend this scent. It is sexy and pleasing and generally very well-liked by women. I really like the opening burst, with the bergamot. Plus, the dry down when the vetiver arrives is great.

That opening act with the bergamot and cardamom is nice. But, coming back to this one with my newer bottle, I have been remembering how much I enjoy the mid and latter stages of La Nuit de L’homme.

The lavender, vetiver, and cedar…along with the remaining but toned down cardamom is still awesome and a pleasure to wear.

Scent wise, this is a definite buy. Performance wise, it’s just okay. This has been a very popular scent for long time now, so, it has proven itself among the masses and gotten very positive feedback. Give it a try for yourself.

The good news is that, it’s one that actually does go on sale from time to time, either directly from YSL or through a discount site. I got it and a bottle of L’Homme from YSL, buy one get one free, if I remember correctly.

Kouros Body by Yves Saint Laurent

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I first posted this review of Kouros Body back in 2014 or so. But, this was one of my go to wear’s in the previous decade also. I love this fragrance. So, I had to do an update for the site. It doesn’t quite fit comfortably in a category, the notes are unusual on their own, and quite weird when placed together.

However, it was always great, and an absolute joy for me to wear. I’m going to cover: how this Yves Saint Laurent cologne smells, what’s in it, how it performs, and when it should be worn.

What does Kouros Body Smell Like?

KO14M

Body Kouros Notes: Incense, eucalyptus, benzoin, cedar, sage

Click here to try: Kouros Body by Yves Saint Laurent for Men – 3.4 oz EDT Spray

I would describe the scent of Kouros Body as sweet with a spice. Not sweet like a fruity scent would be,  but rather a bit like candy. The spice is subtle, more of an undertone, but gives Kouros Body a certain character and warmth. This cologne is highly distinctive and memorable.

On nights I’ve worn it out to a bar, it always seems to have women inching closer before they ask, “What are you wearing that smells so good?”

The scent profile is rather unique, as I’ve never come across anything else like it, and it doesn’t share any real connection with the original Kouros from YSL.

I mean, when the strongest note is benzoin, and you have a smokey incense note throughout the wear…you’re going to be a different type of cologne.

Anyway, Body is pretty warm and enveloping, with a medicinal touch from the inclusion of eucalyptus. I find it to be smooth and soothing.

The benzoin and eucalyptus are paired at the top of this cologne, along with the spicy sage note. It’s not a heavy spice, by any means, just a part of the warm cloud everything is wrapped up in.

As it dries down, Body Kouros, feels quite herbal and sweet but with less of the eucalyptus and more of a cedar coming through. The composition is so simple, but manages to have such a great smell on my skin.

In the end I get, lots of benzoin with burning incense, and sage and eucalyptus flanking that. Very fresh.

I have to admit that Kouros Body is one of my personal favorite colognes and one that I like to have on hand. It doesn’t have the same attention grabbing qualities as other scents. Body is to me, like a slower and more methodical seduction, almost hypnotic in its draw.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this one was always pretty moderate on my skin. Body Kouros isn’t a heavy fragrance and the sillage is going to hang pretty close to you, after about an hour of wear or so.

But, it’s not a total skin scent. Just one that is lighter and not a powerhouse.

The older bottle that I had would give me about 6-7 hours of wear, sometimes better on colder days. I’m not sure what the newer bottles are putting out, but it was always solid.

One draw back for me is that it doesn’t perform as well during the summertime. Especially, if you live in an area of high humidity like I do. No, Kouros Body begs to be worn during chilly days or evenings when it’s warmth can fully emanate outwards.

Stick to wearing it in the autumn through early spring and you should get Body at its best.

This was definitely one of my go to scents during the winter time, in the 2009-2013 era, of my life. I could wear this out for a night at the bar, somewhat dressed up, with an overcoat.

It wasn’t clearing out the room, like 1 Million would, during that time period. However, when women got close to me, a whole lot of them were digging this YSL gem.

It’s got a good age range on it too. It’s not irreverent and young, nor does it smell stuffy and old. Men in their early 20s and older gentlemen, can spray this one on without issue or feeling out of place.

Overall Impressions of Kouros Body

Kouros Body will always have a soft spot for me, after being a great wear for such a long stretch. I should get a new bottle at some point, but I have so many reviews and tests to do for this site, it gets difficult to not have sparsely used bottles laying around.

However, I can recommend this scent, but it’s not going to be one that everybody enjoys wearing. Body is its own thing completely, and kind of a time capsule cologne, that represents the turn of the new century when not every fragrance felt like a clone of another.

Eucalyptus and benzoin are actually a great combination. It’s resinous and herbal, while being smooth and fresh. It’s an easy to wear fragrance, even with its more unique style, and women have seemed to compliment it quite often over the years.

Then, you have the warmth, sweetness, and smokiness from incense. It’s not really anything like the original Kouros, but does its own thing, and does it well.

Again, I’m not sure if the newer bottles got reformulated or not, but it’s one to try out. But, understand that it might not be a favorite for everyone.

Versace Man Eau Fraiche

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I am a fan of Versace fragrances. Versace Eros, while it can be a bit heavy if overused, is still one of my choices to wear during the cold winter months. On the opposite end of the spectrum is Versace Man Eau Fraiche. This isn’t a cold weather fragrance like Eros, rather, it is one which shines during the heat of summer and invokes images of day’s spent along the beach.

In this review, I want to delve into this scent a little bit deeper and see what makes it such a great summer cologne for men. How does it smell? What are the ingredients? How the sillage and longevity? Is Eau Fraiche worth a buy?

What does Versace Man Eau Fraiche Smell Like?

versace man eau

Notes include: Lemon, Rosewood, Carambola, Cedar leaves, Tarragon, Sage, Musk, Amber, Sycamore

Click here to try: Versace Man Eau Fraiche By Gianni Versace For Men Edt Spray 3.4 Oz

Eau Fraiche Full Review

What I notice right off the bat with this fragrance is that it has such a fresh and citrus based opening note that really grabs one’s attention and draws you in for more.

It’s always a good sign that a cologne has a good opening note and doesn’t require 20 minutes of wear before it even begins to get good.

No worries with Versace Man. Lemon, bergamot, and carambola (starfruit) lead the way. The aroma is great, very bright, and utterly captivating to my nose. I really do dig the opening.

The lemon is definitely the star of the show here in the opening and everything else it just in a support role.

The next striking thing about this cologne is how much it smells like a summertime fragrance. It’s warm, clean, confident, with a bit of elegance sprinkled in. Plus, it’s projection actually gets better with some heat, unlike all too many fragrances which wither in the warmer months.

While I find this feature to be a positive, one could argue that this narrow usage acts as a strike against it. If you are looking for an all-weather and daily wearer, then this Versace cologne isn’t for you.

However, depending on the climate of where you live, you could get 3-6 months use out of it.

The citrus becomes less pronounced after about 45 minutes or so and some spicier notes begin to emerge which adds a layer of energy to this fragrance that brings the intensity up a notch.

The spice is pretty herbal in its feel, you have sage, tarragon, and cardamom among other notes.

The base notes really help to bring out the personality and sexiness of this scent. At times, it really begins to remind me a lot of Light Blue, but I think I prefer this Versace (but Light Blue Eau Intense is better than both). More in the style, than the exact smell of the fragrance.

Finally, once the citrus has calmed down from its powerful beginnings, the woody base is on full display. Sycamore, rosewood, and cedar. It kind of blends into a generic ‘wood’ aroma, but you can detect the differences at times, if you’re paying attention.

So, from Versace Man Eau Fraiche, you get: a lemony aroma with a slight aquatic quality, bits of herbal spice, and a woody dry down.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Versace Man Eau Fraiche has decent projection, which as I said, gets better with a little bit of heat. Overall, I would say it is moderate in that regard. This doesn’t need to be too loud, but it projects itself well when compared to other summer scents, in the same vein.

Also, it’s not a marathon runner in terms of how long it lasts on your skin but it does seem to perform adequately, usually about 6-7 hours in my experience.

Not great by any means, but good enough for most usage. I am basing this off of a batch of 2014 fragrance, so, I can’t speak to any reformulations that may have occurred thereafter that effected performance.

It’s kind of an all-around wear in the summer months. Things are generally more casual during this time anyway, but this is a safe scent to smell fresh and pleasant. Not really a club beast, nor super sexy, but it is attractive.

Overall Impressions of Eau Fraiche

All told, this cologne is a very good option to wear during the warmer months. It’s not spectacular, but it smells pretty damn good and delivers good performance on my skin.

There are definitely some cheaper options out there, but I wouldn’t be opposed to owning a smaller sized bottle of this, because I do find it enjoyable. Although, this one has become more and more affordable over the years, since it’s so popular.

Personally, I have so many different autumn and winter fragrances, that I like colognes like this one, to switch up the pace for the summertime. Eau Fraiche is a solid choice.

To me, that star fruit and lemon opening, really hooks me in. Star fruit is one of my favorite summertime notes and this is a great rendition.

The herbal spice is attractive and the woody base is fine, but probably not the most intriguing part of this Versace.

But, all told, you get an awesome scent with decent enough performance for what it’s going to be used for. As far as hot weather colognes from mainstream designers, Versace Man Eau Fraiche still does rank near the top of the list.

Blind buy safe? Absolutely. Unless you really don’t like citrus based colognes, one shouldn’t have a problem finding enjoyment out of this one.

Afternoon Swim by Louis Vuitton

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Afternoon Swim is going to be the first full review that I’ve done of a Louis Vuitton scent, on the site. I’ve got decants of most of the releases and will work my way through them over the coming weeks and months.

This one was brought to market in 2019 as a part of the Les Colognes Louis Vuitton series. What does it smell like? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Afternoon Swim by Louis Vuitton Smell like?

Notes include: bergamot, mandarin orange, orange, ginger, ambergris

My Full Review

Before I get into my personal review, let’s see what Louis Vuitton has to say about Afternoon Swim: Passionate orange, to sail toward pleasure. A plunge into an ocean of sensations. Feeling all the energy of the waves washing over the skin on a hot summer’s day.

Alright, so from the start, just know that this isn’t a very complex fragrance. It’s also heavily weighted to citrus notes, so, if that’s not your thing try another Vuitton perfume.

Afternoon Swim kicks off with its orange notes front and center. I do smell mandarin, but another orange seems to have the upper hand, and there’s also a solid dose of bergamot.

It reminds me quite a bit of Dior Homme Cologne or Allure Homme Sport Cologne by Chanel, just with different citrus notes, and more ginger. Less spicy and resinous than the Chanel. 

I like the addition of the ginger note, as it gives Swim a bit more heft than just being another thin and quick citrus scent. It’s also one of my favorite spices, so it really grabs my attention.

The other scent that I am reminded of is, Millesime Imperial by Creed. That one and this LV fragrance both have an ambergris note, at the base, but it is much lighter here.

Personally, I love a good summer citrus fragrance, and this one is a great example. Bright, juicy, and full of vibrancy. Very much like being at the pool or walking a seaside promenade during the warmer months.

As it moves along, I get more of the bergamot on my skin versus the orange note and just enough of the ambergris to add a touch of saltiness to the composition. 

That’s pretty much what the tail end of this fragrance is all about.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Most of the time, these sort of colognes aren’t powerhouses. Afternoon Swim, included. It’s on the lighter end of moderate and will project 4-6 feet from the skin, at its peak, before drawing closer and closer.

Though, this Vuitton wasn’t a complete skin scent until later in the wear. It has enough substance to keep bringing wafts of the aroma for a good while.

On my skin, it stuck around for 5-6 hours. Not amazing or any type of marathon runner. Though, again, to be expected with a summer citrus splash. But, at this price, you might be of the mind that you want more out of it.

Afternoon Swim is a safe to wear unisex scent. I’d keep it to the daytime, mostly in summer, but it’s great here in spring too.

Not going to be a nightlife, club banger, or sexy sort of scent. Probably not a bad choice for a pool or beach party, though.

A super fresh and fruity scent that  energizes and can be a lot of fun to wear.

Wear it casually or semi-formally when the temperatures start to rise, in your neck of the woods. This is one that I loved wearing outside, over the summer. Just at the beach, boardwalk, or other more vacation mode type of activities.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Afternoon Swim

Do I like this fragrance? I do. I like it a lot, in fact.

I really enjoy these citrus colognes for the summer months and this one gives me some really juicy orange notes. Orange is usually one of my least favorite citrus notes in fragrances, but the pair are great, along with bergamot.

It’s not a scent that is going to be overly complicated or even a signature wear for anyone. But, if you want a great summer wear that can hold up well in the heat, Afternoon Swim can deliver.

For the type and style that this perfume is, Afternoon Swim is pretty fantastic. It has a much more limited use case, but is a very nice wear within that.

Is it worth the price? I don’t know that I’d reach for this, if Louis Vuitton prices are a stretch for you budget.

Again, you can get similar results from Dior Homme Cologne, which is more affordable. It’s not the same, it’s simpler, but might be a fine alternative.

Update: The Dua Brand has its version of Afternoon Swim, called Gone Swimming. I personally purchased their blended version of this Louis Vuitton with their version of Virgin Island Water…and it’s fantastic.

If you want the Louis Vuitton experience, at a cheaper price and with better performance, I highly recommend getting a hold of one of the Dua versions. Gone Swimming in Caribbean Waters is amazing and will be one of my go to fragrances in the summer.

Uomo Born in Roma Coral Fantasy by Valentino

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Valentino has released its latest fragrance from its Born in Roma line for men. 2022’s scent is called Coral Fantasy, with its juice resembling the color with its pinkish hue. This is the third cologne in the Roma series. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Uomo Coral Fantasy Smell Like?

Notes include: red apple, tobacco, patchouli, sage, geranium

Click here to try: Coral Fantasy from Saks

My Full Review

Here’s how Valentino describes it: Inspired by the light of Rome at sunset, Uomo Born in Roma Coral Fantasy is an amber, fruity men’s fragrance composed of a colorful apple accord. Blended with smoky tobacco, this eau de toilette is infused with a heart of sage and germanium essence to reveal a powerful yet fresh cologne.

Tried it yourself? Leave your own review and score in the comments below.

I never ended up trying out Born in Roma Yellow Dream, as the original Born in Roma, is one of the few fragrances that I had a bad reaction to. Stuff makes me dizzy as hell. But, when I read the notes to Coral Fantasy, I wanted to give it a go.

I actually thought about blind buying a full bottle of this to test out, but instead found 3 sample vials for sale on eBay. It turned out to be a good call, as I don’t think I’d actually want a full bottle of Coral Fantasy.

The fragrance does open up with a pretty interesting aroma. The crisp red apple note is the star, with it sweet and juicy scent getting paired early on with cardamom and some spices.

It actually reminds me of a cider, that I’ve had before. But, with a bit of a sweeter kick.

That red apple note is great with the cardamom and bergamot, lending some warmth a slight lemon-like fruitiness of its own with the spice.  The first spray does give Coral Fantasy a warmer amber feel to it, but that’s not how it finishes.

Sage is the third player in the early stages behind the cardamom and apple. I get a nice burst of it at the very start, which will hold through the first transition.

That transition does come on early. The initial fruitiness will begin to fade, making way for the next phase. Geranium freshness will permeate, the lavender and tobacco notes will begin to show up, and the red apple will be a role player.

I actually do get some comparison to Spicebomb Night Vision EDT. Not the same, the Valentino is better, but there is overlap between them.

At this point, it is a colder, drier, freshness.  A geranium, sage, lavender trio will then morph into a geranium and tobacco scent with hints of patchouli and vetiver coming up from the base.

Tobacco is the note that hangs around. It ends up cold, slightly sweet, with a earthy sort of freshness. Patchouli and geranium also stick it out a bit, at the very end.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, you can call this a moderate. It doesn’t overpower. That first hour or so, will create a nice scent bubble around you, but it will weaken. Much of the wear, it is a skin scent on me.

Perhaps, you’ll have better luck?

It does stick on the skin for a decent amount of time, even in that weakened state. I could still pick up the tobacco note about 7 hours in. Not great, but serviceable for an eau de toilette.

Seasonally, I’d wear this anytime outside of the summer months. It works in colder temperatures, but best in this early spring weather or even in the autumn. So, one should get plenty of use out of it.

It could be worn in a wide variety of situations. Maybe not the most formal cologne or a club banger, but beyond that, it should be fine.

Really any age could wear this one. The opening does have a more youthful vibe, but it never strays too far that way, quickly snapped back by the tobacco note.

roma coral fantasy review

Overall Impressions of Uomo Coral Fantasy

Overall, do I like this scent? Coral Fantasy is pretty good, but not great. I don’t think it is a terrible cologne, but it doesn’t for the most part, grab my attention. I like aspects of it, just the overall presentation never hits a super high level.

The opening is where you’re going to get the sweetness and the most unique aspect of this fragrance. When that’s going on and when you get the pairing of the apple remnants with the tobacco note, this Valentino is enjoyable.

After that, it’s fine and I don’t dislike it. The geranium, tobacco, and overall freshness is nice. Though, it is also kind of weak with its sillage. A decent few hours of performance, before becoming fairly mediocre.

I wanted to like Coral Fantasy more than I actually do. The notes sounded intriguing enough to me that I almost purchased a full bottle. Personally, I probably wouldn’t have gotten much use out of that.

That being said, I do think that it’s worth a try. Maybe not at full retail price, but with a significant discount, it could be a nice pick up for certain guys. This is one you should test out and see if it actually speaks to you.