Cologne Reviews

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.

Luna Rossa Ocean by Prada

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Prada is continuing its releases under the Luna Rossa line and its latest addition is called Ocean. This is one that I wanted to try out for a while and so I finally got a hold of a sample, to put it through some testing. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a buy?

What does Luna Rossa Ocean Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, iris, pink pepper, artemisia, lavender, sage, suede, saffron, musk, vetiver, caramel, patchouli

Click here to try:  Luna Rossa Ocean at Macy’s

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Prada describes Ocean: Prada Luna Rossa Ocean has a unique neo-fresh olfactory signature that reinvents the emblematic fougère family. Sublimating notes of aromatic freshness mixed with the sophisticated sensuality of bergamot, a contrast is created with the sophisticated essence of vetiver. Everything intertwines in the heart notes with an elegant iris accord.

Ocean opens up with what I would term an impression of a ‘light blue’ color. It uses bergamot and some other light citrus notes extremely well in the opening. It’s fresh and juicy.

The usual Luna Rossa lavender note, is actually lighter in this composition. You get a smooth sweetness of suede, caramel and tonka bean. I don’t think those notes are officially listed, but their aroma is definitely in there. Perhaps, as a part of the ‘saffron accord’.

The main floral note here is the iris. Along with that suede quality and juicy citrus, you will get a fresh and aromatic aroma, with a touch of the lavender.

Smooth, sweet, spicy, but don’t expect an aquatic based on its name. Less of the ocean and something that would smell very pleasant while on the boat or shore.

Pink pepper gives it a nice warmth, but isn’t all that heavy. Personally, I don’t really get much of the artemisia note, not too much of an herbal bitterness to my nose.

That’s what much of the initial wear will consist of. Then, Ocean will begin to shift away to a drier and muskier clean.

Iris and lavender take on a larger role, along with vetiver and the musks. The opening citrus fades by a lot, and so does much of that initial sweet character. It has a certain soapiness, not over the top with it, maybe call it a ‘general cleanliness’.

The dry down is nice, a basic dry floral and musk. Yet, Ocean seems to retain some of its own unique character.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Ocean starts off with pretty good power. The sillage trail is there and it will project itself with a nice radius off of you. I’d call it the upper end of moderate sillage, at its peak.

The problem is that doesn’t stay near that level for all that long and this is a softer cologne for the rest of the way.

In terms of how long it lasts, Ocean only hits the 4-6 hour range, on the skin. It’s not great and that’s this fragrances, biggest weakness.

Beyond that, the power is really only sticking around for 2-3 hours of that, while quickly declining. The rest of the time, this Luna Rossa scent will be very close to the skin.

As far as what season to wear Ocean, pretty much any. Probably worst in the colder weather by moderate to warmer temperatures, this one pairs very nicely with.

One good thing is, that it can be worn pretty much anywhere, by anyone. Maybe not the most formal scent or one that’s going to be a night club banger. However, it is super versatile outside of that.

Other people seem to enjoy this one and it’s already gotten itself a mass appeal vibe to it. Ocean is an east to wear and easy to like cologne. It does seem familiar in many ways, but I cannot think of any scent in particular that it smells like.

Overall Impressions of Ocean

Overall, do I like Luna Rossa Ocean? Yes, but it does have its issues.

I think the opening hour or so is absolutely beautiful. I love the way that is smells early on. After that, it’s nice, but a pretty standard soapy clean kind of fragrance. Not bad, but doesn’t capture my attention to the same extent.

Though, overall the aroma is something that I’m certainly attracted to and I dig the experience as a whole.

Update: Even with the newer releases in the series, this is my favorite scent of the bunch. The EDP didn’t really last much longer for me. The Parfum has good performance, but is a different sort of smell from the first two, it’s my second pick.

The main problem with this one, is the performance. Ocean becomes a skin scent much more quickly than the other Luna Rossa fragrances. I don’t mind a softer scent, but this is one the makes you spray a lot, just to get any sort of projection and sillage.

The longevity when you do spray a lot, will get around six hours. Again, that’s not great, in a world wear there are designer colognes in this price range that can hit double digit hours.

Luna Rossa Ocean is a great fragrance at the start, that turns into a rather middling kind of cologne. Which, can make it a tougher decision, as to whether or not one should buy a bottle.

I lean towards yes, because I do think the start is great. Plus, I’ve already seen it go on sale a few times. At a discount, it could be a solid pickup.

It does have very positive aspects, a pretty unique take on the Luna Rossa concept, and is a crowd pleaser. Full price might be too much, but if you can get a discount, it’s worth a shot.