Cologne Reviews

Polo Red EDT by Ralph Lauren

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Ralph Lauren has become synonymous with American style. The companies’ designs are clean, classic, and often times colorful. Beyond the world of clothing, Ralph Lauren Polo enjoys also enjoys great success in the fragrance realm. For decades now, the firm has put out colognes and perfumes that perform and smell great.

Polo Red has been one that they’ve relied on for the past decade or so, spawning a ton of flanker scents, which have become somewhat popular in their own right. But, how does it smell? Perform? Is it worth a try?

What does Polo Red Smell Like?

polo red

Notes include: grapefruit, italian lemon, cranberry, saffron, sage, coffee beans, and amber

Click here to try: POLO RED by Ralph Lauren, 4.2 Fl Oz

My Full Take on Polo Red

Sweet, warm, with spice is how I would describe this fragrance in short. This is not a girly type of sweetness like candy or something, rather, the citrus notes produce an alluring scent rooted in the masculine.

I think that there is a certain energy that comes with smelling Polo Red, sort of a refreshing blast that transitions into a moderate fragrance enveloped in a warm glow. It is a seductive cologne which maintains a classy air, subtle yet one which the ladies are sure to enjoy.

It opens with a mix of citrus and cranberry. This pairing is quite sharp and very sweet from the jump. The citrus contingent is led by Italian lemon with some added grapefruit. It opens up with a super bright disposition and of course that tart cranberry note.

Cranberry is the main attraction here, so, keep that in mind if you’re thinking about giving Polo Red a try…you have to like that note to enjoy.

Underneath those three fruity notes, is amber, which provides that warm cloud wrapping around the sweetness.

A few minutes after the sharp/tart opening, the edge is taken off by the amber and the sweetness then takes on a slight bubble gum aroma. Not too overt or anything, but it is the sort of vibe that I pick up on.

The Italian lemon note, I think, adds a different kind of feeling from many other colognes on the market. Versace Eros, also has Italian lemon as one of its notes and the two are somewhat similar, though Eros has a much heavier projection and woodsy feel to it.

There is a coffee bean note listed here, but I’ve never gotten that smell. Polo Red Extreme has the coffee note ramped up, but in the original, it is absent for me.

Saffron and sage are present, particularly the former, which brings some depth of character and a bit of spice. Finally, there is a bit of random wood note in the base. Not much.

So, most of what you’re getting with Polo Red is: tart cranberry, citrus, warm sweetness, with some light spice and wood. Lots of cranberry and lemon, sitting on a sea of amber. It really does evoke a sense of ‘red’.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Polo Red starts off somewhat intensely for me, before it settles down quite a bit into a subtle and moderate fragrance. Some people report that the longevity is a problem but I find it to be so-so in that regard.

Some days, it feels like it lasts quite adequately while other times it gives out too quickly. I’ve tried out doubling up on how much I apply and this works well to boost the longevity.

I’ve gotten anywhere from 4-7 hours, with this cologne over the years. It is kind of strange, its varied outcomes, but it’s usually in line with the other Ralph Lauren colognes.

You don’t need to go overboard but a little more wouldn’t hurt. I currently have a splash mini bottle and I have to go fairly heavy. So, initially Polo Red is radiating from my skin, and then settles down. This definitely isn’t a heavy scent but it does provide a warm cloud of fragrance.

I like this one for the springtime, mostly, although it wouldn’t feel completely out of place during other months of the year. It’s better in colder temperatures, than high humidity, and heat.

Polo Red is a very nice choice for an everyday casual wear and it can be versatile enough for other occasions. It isn’t going to be a formal fragrance, though. Probably not one, you’d want to wear in a more serious office environment.

It’s sweet fruity aroma, will skew more towards the younger set. If I were want a Polo Red fragrance as an older guy, I’d be picking up Extreme.

Overall Impressions of Polo Red

Is Polo Red a good cologne? Yes. I really like this fragrance and it seems that others do as well. It can be somewhat pricey and as such I think it should have better longevity. However, if one grabs a small 0.5 oz bottle for cheap, it would be worth it to wear now and again.

They did just release Polo Red Intense which amps up the qualities of this fragrance but I have yet to try it (Update here is my comparison: Red vs. Intense). Good stuff, but it might be worth getting the Intense version instead now.

Newer Update: I liked this stuff more years ago. It was one of the earlier one’s I enjoyed, when I first started the site in 2013. As of now, I’m not all that high on it. I still do like aspects of Red.

For instance, the cranberry tartness is still pretty unique, paired with that amber glow. Still, I’d pick Polo Red Extreme over this. Depending on my feeling that day on Intense, the original Polo Red EDT, ranks either second or the more usual third out of this series.

It’s fun and fairly attractive. Not the most versatile wear, in terms of age range and occasion, but you can still get good use out of it.

Jazz by YSL

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I was very pleased to be able to get a hold of a travel sprayer full of Jazz EDT by Yves Saint Laurent. This 1980s classic has gone off the market and back on, even being offered in a slightly different version, under a slightly different name.

Nonetheless, I was excited to be able to get the original, and experience it once again. In this post, I will share my experiences with how it smells and performs, and whether I think it is still worth a try.

What does YSL Jazz Smell Like?

Notes include: lavender, coriander, nutmeg, artemisia, tobacco, geranium, jasmine, carnation, cardamom, basil, and more

Click here to try: Jazz by Yves Saint Laurent

My Full Review

Jazz is a fragrance which dates back to the late 1980s and you definitely can tell from the very first spray. That’s not to say that it’s dated, but it just has a smell and style that newer releases simply do not. That can be good or bad, based on your tastes.

It opens up with a spicy freshness. The main spices here are the coriander and nutmeg. Anise also comes through. Initially, you can pick up on notes like basil and a slight cinnamon, but that is short-lived.

Underneath the spice, is the ever-present and strengthening lavender note, with other dry notes such as: oakmoss, tobacco, and a bit of leather. It’s a classic clean spice with dry woodsy undertones.

The floral notes other than lavender, do come in to support the main attraction. It’s really blended well and none of the notes stick out too much to me.

As it moves along, Jazz EDT, moves more into a floral clean and somewhat sweet arena. Artemisia, geranium, with some very light amber and tonka bean give it a smoother appeal.

This combined with the lavender, creates a very nice mix, with its more masculine features occupying the base.

The final result is a dry, fresh, green floral/spice blend, that is fairly barbershop in its essence. Jazz is a great fougere example, that is balanced, and still retains a mass appeal. There’s a nice mossy finish towards the end or at least the impression of moss, anyway.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage is pretty strong at first, but it does become more moderate for the rest of the wear. It is noticeable, but not completely in your face, with its power.

Though not a powerhouse, the longevity, is actually very good on my skin. During testing, I was able to get 9-10 hours of wear from this YSL cologne, without any issue. I was actually surprised that a newer batch, could still bring it with the performance.

Seasonally, it works in any season but the height of summer. I would go with either autumn or spring, as it fits in well with the more moderate temperatures, versus either extreme.

This is best suited for men in their mid-20s and up. If you’re a younger guy and want something different, you could still pull it off. It can be worn casually, at the office, or for an evening out. It has a certain level of sexiness, but isn’t a club banger, by any means.

It’s versatile for many other situations, as it isn’t likely to offend or be obtrusive when wearing it. Very solid all around.

Overall Impression of Jazz by YSL

Do I like this fragrance? I do. That’s saying something, because this isn’t usually my style, but I can wear Jazz and like doing so. It’s not my favorite ever, or even favorite Yves Saint Laurent, but I do appreciate the scent.

It’s a great throwback to another era of colognes. There are others which smell, quite a bit like this one, but this is still a wonderful scent. I wish I could get a hold of Live Jazz, as I remember really liking that fragrance, possibly more so than the original.

This one has been reformulated over the years, so, it probably won’t exactly smell how it used to be. Not too much of a problem, if you’re new to it. Honestly, it still has plenty of life and I have to say that I find it pretty enjoyable.

If you want a lavender blend or something with that classic dry spiciness, Jazz is one to try out. Not going to be one if you’re looking for a super sweet or boozy kind of scent. The fragrance hits the spiciness, floral accords, and gives you a clean masculine finish.

Bvgari Aqua Pour Homme Marine

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Yes, we’re heading into the winter months, in the Northern hemisphere. However, I wanted to get some reviews done this week, and the first up is a decidedly summer scent. Bvlgari Aqva Marine is one of the offerings from the Aqva line, by Bvlgari. How does this one stack up? What does it smell like? Is the performance good? Is it worth a try?

What does Bvlgari Aqva Marine Smell Like?

Notes include: neroli, seaweed, orange, grapefruit, cedar, rosemary, aquatic notes

Click here to try: Bvlgari Aqva Marine Pour Homme by Bvlgari 3.4oz 100ml EDT Spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Aqva Marine immediately hits with a familiar citrus aroma, much like in the original from this series. Yes, the orange note is the same, but this Marine has more grapefruit and balance between the two fruit notes.

The original Aqva, had a pretty short-lived orange note. After that, it became much more of what you’d associate with a marine sort of fragrance. Aqva Marine, has more depth.

Add to that, the neroli note, softens and adds a different cleaner component to this version of Aqva. To my nose, the seaweed’s influence is lightened up, and I get more of the oceanic watery fragrance.

This cologne becomes very fresh, crisp, and a bit salty sitting underneath the citrus notes up top. The coldness of this scent, seems to come and go on my skin, but it’s one aspect that I rather enjoyed.

As it moves forward, Aqva Marine becomes less of a citrus based scent, and the oceanic ingredients really take control. Again, the seaweed is way less intense than in the original, which I take as a good thing. The seaweed, could become a bit overwhelming at times.

From here, this is a fairly linear fragrance. Sea water, seaweed, light citrus, neroli, with a touch of herbal notes from rosemary and petitgrain.

Similar to the original Aqva, but with enough difference to let it stand on its own accord.  Clean, but something that is going to appeal to a certain segment of the population.

Longevity, Sillage, and Versatility

The sillage of this one is light to moderate. Definitely not a complete monster, but then again, this isn’t the sort of scent you’d want to be one. It’s going to hang close to the skin, as a fresh aquatic. It’s got enough power to be noticeable, particularly during the opening act.

The longevity is pretty good, for this category of fragrance. Usually you cannot expect all that much from a citrus/oceanic cologne, but this one can hit 6 hours of wear, depending on the climate conditions. Again, not spectacular, but very solid.

It falls right in line with the other Aqva fragrances in this series. Not too bad, especially since this isn’t really going to be a stand alone daily wear for most men.

Climate wise, warm weather, all the way. This is a spring/summer fragrance or a year round, if you live in a tropical region. I wouldn’t call this a romantic wear or a nightlife go to, by any means.

This is more casual and potentially some office wear, on the right day. Also, something you could put on for a trip to the coast or a beach day. A very relaxed and chilled out fragrance.

Don’t expect very much beyond being a nice an refreshing grab, during the daytime in the summer. There’s no real age range on this, it could work for young men to older guys, as well. Quite balanced and non-offensive, at least for a summertime wear.

It actually seems like it might be a good candidate for layering with another cologne. It has depth on its own, but it could be interesting in a blend.

Overall Thoughts on Aqva Marine

Do I like Aqva Marine? Yes, I think that it’s a nice wear, in the aquatic space. I’m not blown away by it or anything, but it has its strengths.

Mainly, it can serve as a more balanced and easier to wear option, versus the other Aqva colognes. Those other ones, are probably more unique, but also more polarizing. This is a good middle ground.

I’ve never been a huge fan of the oceanic type of aquatics. Some of them are pretty good, but smelling like seaweed and salt water, isn’t really my thing. That being said, Aqva Marine is one of the better examples of this type done right, on the market.

The performance is solid, the smell is pleasing but not amazing. I’d rate this as being above average, and definitely worth a try, for guys who enjoy a good oceanic aquatic.

Is it anything amazing? No, but it doesn’t do anything poorly either, and can usually be found for a decent price.

Jardin d’Amalfi by Creed

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Yet another sample I’ve received as of late is Jardin d’Almafi by Creed. This is a unisex fragrance, that is a part of the Royal Exclusives collection, of high end specialty scents. In this post, I’m going to cover my usual how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if I think it is worth a purchase or not.

What does Jardin d’Amalfi Smell Like?

Notes include: neroli, mandarin, bergamot, rose, vetiver, cedar, musk, pink pepper

Click here to try: Jardin D’amalfi By Creed EDP 250ml 8.4 Oz Splash

My Full Review

The opening of Jardin d’Amalfi is a strong burst of mandarin with a bergamot note that is very similar to Creed’s Aventus for men. The bergamot note never takes over and the mandarin is interestingly paired with green/woodsy notes, mainly neroli and vetiver, I think.

Very citrusy up top with that neroli floral boosting it. There is also a slight warmth/spice from pink pepper, but it isn’t all that powerful.

This fragrance is quite a bit floral during the middle act, and though unisex, it definitely seems to stray more toward the feminine end of things. The light apple note, gives this one a slightly crisp bite.

Jardin is my third scent from the Royal Exclusives line by Creed. I would honestly, put it behind Sublime Vanille, but ahead of Spice and Wood in terms of how it smells.

Jardin definitely does have that natural garden type of scent to it; with the rose and neroli which give it, it’s floral dimension. Plus, the top citrus layer gives off a ripe sweetness, like a spring/summer day. It’s a very pleasant and clean fragrance.

There is another layer of woody crispness and greenery involved. Vetiver and cedar seem to be the main two players and I detect just a hint of the pink pepper note in there as well. It’s sort of reminiscent of a pine tree aroma but not as heavy.

The majority of the wear is a citrus/floral with a woodsy green base. The rose note becomes the main floral ingredient, but it never fully takes over the composition.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection on this scent isn’t too strong but it is still very noticeable. Jardin d’Almalfi doesn’t strike me as weak in any way, but it isn’t really a smell it across the room fragrance, unless you overdo it.

Overall, it’s a nice moderate sillage that is actually consistent throughout most of the wear, before fading out.

The longevity is actually where it seems to shine, I’ve gotten a full workday out of a few dabs of this juice, during both times that I have worn it. For the price, it should provide good longevity and it actually does the job.

So, after a few times of use, Jardin seems to fall in the 8-9 hour range on my skin. Not complete beast mode, just good.

I totally see this mainly as a casual springtime fragrance, possibly early summer. I’m not sure that it will be all that fantastic when it is super hot outside, but it’ll do nicely in the warm weather.

This is not a club scent or one that I find all that sexy or alluring. It’s natural, fresh, green/citrus.

Unisex fragrance that leans more towards the traditionally feminine. If you’re a man, who isn’t a fan of the floral notes, this will most likely be a pass for you.

Overall Impressions of Jardin d’Amalfi by Creed

Overall, is Jardin d’Almalfi worth a purchase. I’ll set aside the eye-popping price tag for the moment and say that while it’s not really my style, I do think that it smells good.

It’s a bit too floral and ‘girly’ for my tastes and added with that high end Royal Exclusives price, I’ll pass on ever getting a full bottle.

It’s a nice fragrance and if you’ve got the money to spend, you could do a lot worse, but this scent is hardly earth-shattering…it’s just nice and clean.

Again, I think that Sublime Vanille is better than this one. Though, even that fragrance, probably isn’t worth the price, despite having the best vanilla note I’ve come across.

In lieu of this, you could grab an Acqua di Parma or Tom Ford citrus/floral for cheaper. While still getting a perfume that smells great. There’s a ton of other options in this style of scent, which can do the job just as well if not better.

Phantom EDT by Paco Rabbane

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Paco Rabanne released Phantom in 2021 and I really didn’t give it much thought. It was just some weird robot bottle, that I was in no rush to try out. But, when I got a chance to grab a sample as a part of a larger order, I had it included. I’ve been testing it out more recently, to see what it’s all about. How does it smell? Is it worth a buy?

What does Phantom by Paco Rabanne Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, lemon zest, lavender, patchouli, vetiver, apple, smoke, and more

Click here to try: Phantom by Paco Rabanne

phantom cologne review

My Full Review

Phantom kicks things off with its lemon zest and apple notes providing a juicy opening. It has a sweet and somewhat tropical aroma sitting underneath the main notes (pineapple or mango blend).

Now that I’ve tested this out a few times, I actually kind of like how this one starts. A bit strange, but the sweetness and general creaminess of the vanilla note really helps tie it together.

If most of the scent was like this, it still wouldn’t be a favorite of mine, but that sweet aroma is a decent experience.

Lavender is also a major player. It will grown in strength, as we move on, but it provides a support to the fruits early on.

The lemon and apple notes, will begin to lose their grip on the formulation. That’s when Phantom becomes an earthier, drier, and more lavender based fragrance. Patchouli and lavender, with some smoke, and an herbal spiciness.

The only real change that I detect is going more from a slightly dirty and smoky scent in the background to more herbal spice and dry woodiness. Neither is all that heavy, in my opinion.

It’s way less of a sweet fragrance, at this point in time. The vetiver and patchouli give it an earthy/woodsy aroma coming through, but it’s mostly about the lavender and vanilla notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Phantom strikes me as a moderate fragrance for the opening act, before it settles down closer to the skin. It’s not a sillage and projection beast, but it’s at least above what the mean average would be for men’s fragrances.

With longevity, Phantom will stick around for 6-7 hours. That’s about what it seems capable of on my skin. Again, it’s decent, but not anything that would be considered elite.

Seasonally, I think that Phantom smells its best when its temperate to cold outside. So, I’d stay away from the extremes of winter and of summer. When it’s sort of chilly to before it gets super hot and humid.

Luckily, in March where I live, the temperature is all over the map. Cold days and then bursts of near summertime warmth. That made it a perfect time to give Phantom a whirl. The chillier days were better.

This one is a casual or nightlife scent for younger guys. I don’t think most men over 30 would want to have this on. It’s not a serious or formal sort of fragrance at all. So, it’s use case has some limitations, but it could be a fun one to wear for a certain segment.

Overall Impressions of Phantom

Overall, do I like Phantom? Not particularly. It’s not offensive to smell or anything, I just cannot get into this fragrance, after several tries.

It has some nice facets, but on the whole, I don’t find it enjoyable. The opening act, is the highlight of the wear for me. Nice juicy fruits with a bit of a tropical flair, sort of a pineapple smell.

After that, it kind of becomes this weird earthy lavender cologne. Sometimes, it comes across as smelling like Play-Doh to my nose. Not exactly what I want from a scent.

While it is unique, especially early on, it does become more and more familiar. Not exactly smelling exactly like anything else, but the lavender really takes over while I’m wearing it.

I don’t have a full bottle, obviously, but I actually like the little robot design. Something different, when I saw it in a store, it looked kind of cool. Paco Rabanne is a brand with its own style and this at least carries that forward.

But, Phantom isn’t one of their best efforts.

If you’re a teenager or in your 20s, this one might be something to consider. I wouldn’t blind buy, but it’s worth testing out to see if you like it personally. For me, it’s just not doing anything to capture my attention.