Cologne Reviews

Guess Seductive Homme by Guess

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I first came across Guess Seductive Homme, many years ago, while shopping at my local Target. Immediately, I really enjoyed the scent, and purchased a bottle for myself. In fact, this sweet Guess fragrance, was one of the first that I ever reviewed on this site back when it launched.

Every so often, I come back to this post to update the review, and expand upon my thoughts on this scent.  This is the latest incarnation. Also see: Guess Seductive Homme vs. Seductive Homme Blue

What does Guess Seductive Homme Smell Like?

guess seductive homme review

Try it here: Guess Seductive Men Edt Spray, 3.4 Ounce


Notes include: Cardamom Milk, Pink Pepper, Orchid, Mandarin orange, Patchouli, Amber, Sandalwood, And Musk.

My Full Review

The opening of Guess Seductive Homme is warm and smooth. The top features a mandarin orange note which gives off the juicy citrus aroma and it is joined initially by cardamom milk. Now, this cardamom is more inline with Villain by Ed Hardy, rather than what is found in The One by D&G.

The mandarin orange note is paired extremely well here with the other notes, especially for such a low cost cologne option. It can come together quite balanced, but I’ve always really dug that sweet juiciness up top.

It’s a slight spice with a very clear and upbeat citrus scent that is also flanked by the emerging pink pepper note, which becomes more noticeable as the cologne moves along.

After about ten minutes or so, the warmth becomes more enveloping as the amber takes its place as the main note along with a slight musky tinge. It is such a great blend of sweet and spicy. The sweetness is unique and the spicy isn’t overpowering, just warm and inviting.

None of the spice notes have that sharp black pepper vibe, pink pepper is much more mellow, as is patchouli and cardamom milk.

Seductive is just that, a seductive fragrance. It is not one that is feminine in its charms, rather, it is fresh and masculine. Although, there is a definite floral aspect to this cologne from the orchid note. The orchid isn’t overpowering but it does do an excellent job in support of the other aromas.

The drydown is so sweet and the whole composition become blended together, to create an aroma that is rather unique in the fragrance game. There’s a reason why this one has caught on to be a best seller, in this very affordable price range.

Finally, Guess Seductive Homme, ends its life cycle with a lightly musky amber, pink pepper, and a fruity air. Still retaining its warmth and glowing appeal.

It’s so clean and fresh without having a sporty vibe about it at all. Seductive Homme is reserved and workman-like with ability to stay close to the skin.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Seductive Homme is moderate. It actually works very well on my skin compared to some of the other offerings from Guess. It isn’t a beast or anything but it is much better than a skin scent.

It could always project itself in the 4-6 foot range, at its peak, on my skin. Not insanely impressive, though, quite useful.

I get good longevity out of this Guess cologne as well. 6-8 hours isn’t a problem to achieve at all and this is where the Blue version of Seductive fell apart.

Update: Newer bottles, are supposedly a bit weaker from what I’ve read. I haven’t experienced them, but that 6-8 hours was always very consistent for my old bottle.

I like this as a winter scent mainly although it does have year round wear capabilities. I’ve worn it in the summer and it held up decently, not great, but it wasn’t a slouch either. Seductive Homme is versatile in its uses, I’ve worn it both casually and out at night on dates. It works across the board.

Nowadays, I tend to wear it to the gym or just running errands around town. It’s a younger man’s fragrance, but I still have some of a bottle left, and I definitely like to spray it on from time to time.

Does it receive complements? Yes, I have gotten them often with this one. However, understand that it isn’t a loud or overpowering fragrance, and so it’ll usually come when someone is in close proximity to you.

It was always nice to wear this scent to a night out at the bar back in college during the winter time. That’s usually when it got noticed the most by women.

If you’re going to wear it during the summer, I’d probably do nights only. Heat and humidity aren’t amazing with this formulation. It’s much less enjoyable in that sort of climate.

Overall Impressions of Guess Seductive Homme

Overall, I am very happy with my experience with Guess Seductive. It is a warm, crisp, long-lasting, and great smelling cologne for men that is available for an inexpensive price. What more could you want from it?

I enjoy the citrus, fresh spiciness, and inclusion of saffron and amber. It does have a pretty unique mix, especially when it was released. To me, it’s really reached classic status in this price point. Is it the most incredible scent? No, but it really shines versus comparable colognes, and gives you something worthwhile.

I’m glad that I picked up a bottle of this for under $20 and much like a fragrance such as Nautica Voyage, it greatly exceeds its price in what you get in return.

It’s not nearly as well-made as many of the higher end designer scents out there, but Seductive Homme delivers a unique a deliciously sweet experience, for a third of the price. It’s still one of the better ‘cheapies’ on the market and probably will be for quite a long time.

Even if the newer bottles don’t have the same level of performance (and I’m not sure that’s the case), it’s still a solid option for those in the market.

Jimmy Choo Man

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Jimmy Choo‘s fragrances for men, having garnered, a fairly big fan base over the past five years or so. This was spearheaded by the introduction of Jimmy Choo Man, who’s delightful fruity profile, has become quite popular. However, what does it actually smell like? Does it perform well? Is it even worth a buy?

What does Jimmy Choo Man Smell Like?

Notes include: melon, pineapple, suede, patchouli, pink pepper, lavender

Click here to try: JIMMY CHOO Man Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3 Fl Oz

My Full Wear Review

Jimmy Choo Man opens with a nice fruity blast from pineapple and melon. The melon sits underneath, giving this one a watery crispness, at the start. However, pineapple is the stronger of the two, and I really like it here.

While this cologne is very similar to Coach for Men, I actually get, Coach Platinum vibes from the pineapple. (Side note: Coach Platinum would have been a lot better, with a longer lasting pineapple).

While we’re on the topic, of its similarities with Coach for Men, they do share a lot of similarities. I’d say the main difference in the beginning, comes with the pink pepper note in Jimmy Choo Man, which gives it a different wamth/spiciness. Somewhat reminiscent, of the way the orange and pink pepper interact in Guess Seductive.

Outside of the pink pepper and lavender’s influence, they are pretty identical in how they present themselves, and develop.

Once the initial fruitiness calms down a bit, when the melon falls off, you do start to get some fresh spice and smoothness.

Suede and pink pepper are the culprits, and I must say, I like the development more so here than in Coach. The suede here is pretty phenomenal, as it ties everything together so nicely.

From here it is pineapple, lavender, and suede with some pink pepper and very light earthiness from the patchouli. The smell is better than the Coach version. The suede really takes on a more leathery scent, later in the wear.

It ends with the sweetness still in tact, but I do get some powdery vibes in the really latter stages. Which, isn’t too deep with this fragrance.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage with Jimmy Choo Man, is light. This is not a powerhouse fragrance, nor one that will come close to filling up a room. It starts off decently enough, but after an hour or so, this is pretty much a skin scent. Lame.

I don’t know what’s with this brand and coming out with weak to moderate fragrances. Seriously, boost them up and these would be vying for best seller status with the public.

The longevity hangs around for a bit, maybe around 4 hours, on the skin. I don’t recommend spraying on clothes that you care about preserving, but on a t-shirt this could go 6-7 hours, which is tolerable.

So, weak and doesn’t last very well at all on the skin. If this were a $20 cologne, I’d still be disappointed, but with a designer that charges much more…it’s kind of a joke.

4 hours? I would be only purchasing this at one of the discounters, if I absolutely had to have a bottle.

Climate wise, this is a wear for the spring/summer months. It really does hold up beautifully for a while, before the performance gives way. You could wear this casually or on a date or to school/office, as it is attractive, and won’t overwhelm.

Again, it’d have to be close quarters and for a short period of time, for its versatility to really shine. But, the melon and pineapple notes make this one a pretty easy go to and dumb reach. Has the potential for daily wear, but really at the right price.

This will mainly appeal to younger men. Teens and twenties will probably get a kick out of it. Jimmy Choo Man is simple, but not completely immature, like some other fragrances in that target demographic can be.

Overall Impression of Jimmy Choo Man

Do I like Jimmy Choo Man? I do like it, but don’t love it. Even if it lasted longer, it wouldn’t be an absolute favorite. It does however, smell really nice, and it could’ve been so much more. It’s very much like Coach, but has the same sort of performance issues.

Though, I prefer the Jimmy Choo version.

It smells like of other scents, within this segment of the cologne world. Most designers have released something along these same lines, in the past 5 years, so there are plenty of other options.

I do like the fruity notes here. Bit juicy/watery with tropical vibes. Nice lavender and enough spice to be interesting. It also really doesn’t take any chances which might separate it from the pack.

Yet, it has pretty dreadful performance, which undercuts so much of its usability.

I cannot recommend buying this one, unless you get a huge discount. I’d go for either Jimmy Choo Man Intense or Bleu de Chanel EDP, for a similar experience, done better.

Eternity Now for Men by Calvin Klein

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This is the last of my current batch of Calvin Klein fragrance reviews. This is another from the long line of Eternity for Men flanker colognes, this one is entitled, Eternity Now. Released in 2015, I think this one has pretty much flown under the radar, for the most part.

The brand released some scents that a lot of people don’t seem to know about during this time period. How does it smell? What are the notes? Is the performance any good? Is it worth a try?

What does Eternity Now Smell Like?

Notes include: coconut, star fruit, vanilla, tonka bean, ginger, anise, cedar, and patchouli

Click here to try: CK Eternity Now MEN Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 OZ. 

My Full Wear Review

Eternity Now has a brilliant tropical opening act. I’ve seriously been loving putting this on, during my testing of this fragrance. A bright and delicious star fruit is the main attraction and is paired with coconut.

Underneath that is some light spiciness, from two of my favorite ingredients, for this style: ginger and anise. The anise is the stronger of the two, but neither ever gets too in your face with their presence.

I do like the subtlety of those notes, when playing off of the tropical ingredients

The star fruit is a note that doesn’t get used all that often, as a main ingredient, in men’s fragrances. Versace Eau Fraiche is one example, but I think that this CK cologne uses it better, in that first 30-60 minutes.

The pairing with the coconut is fantastic, juicy, and fresh. I really like the summertime energy that this one gives off. Casual and upbeat, something that begs to be worn in the sunshine.

Eternity Now, obviously gets creamier as it dries down. It’s really inevitable with coconut and a strengthening of both vanilla and tonka bean. What I appreciate though, is that is doesn’t go full sun tan lotion, on my skin. It’s more sweetly fresh than creamy, even at its height.

As it moves along, the star fruit fades from the spotlight. It’s a shame, as the opening is the best part of this scent. The rest of it is still good, but I wanted this fragrance to be completely linear, just because I don’t think it could’ve gotten any better.

For the rest of the way, this is pretty much a vanilla and coconut blend, with cedar at the base. You do still get some wafts of the spice, tonka, and star fruit but they are relegated to the background.

The vanilla takes the lead and the coconut mostly shares duties with tonka bean. Still, that woody freshness keeps it fairly interesting.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

For the first few hours on my skin, the sillage is quite good. It will project to about 6-7 feet, at its absolute zenith, and then move towards the skin. For part of the wear, it will be really close. Then, it’s a skin scent entirely.

The total longevity is in the 6-7 hour range. 2-3 with moderate to good projection. Then, the rest of it, with pretty poor sillage. For me, it isn’t a terrible performer, but it could be better.

Is this a versatile fragrance? I’d say, yes. Seasonally, I’d wear it mostly in the spring or summertime, as that’s when it feels most at home.

I could wear this casually, as a nightlife fragrance, or even out on a date. It does have a very attractive and appealing aroma, especially in that first hour.

This isn’t something you’re going to want to reach for for more formal situations or probably in a professional setting. But, you can get plenty of use out of it depending on your lifestyle.

Update: Casually and especially on summer nights, is when I have been wearing this one. Very bright and upbeat, clean scent.

Overall Impression of Eternity Now

Do I like this cologne? Yes, I like wearing it a lot. The star fruit, coconut, and spice opening is utterly amazing. If this whole scent was like this, it would be one of my favorite fragrances. Ginger and anise, with tropical fruitiness? Awesome.

Update: After having a year or so with this bottle, Eternity Now has become one of my go to cheapie fragrances. I wouldn’t pay full retail for it, but it is a great pickup at a discount.

Update 2: This one is discontinued it seems. However, it is (as of now) still in stock at Fragrancenet. Otherwise, you’re not too likely to stumble upon a bottle out in the wild.

Despite the change and only decent level of performance, I do still think that this is a worthwhile purchase. As a spring/summer wear, it fits in perfectly to that environment. The price is currently super cheap, compared to what you get from the scent.

I may end up personally buying a full bottle, once I’ve gone through using this mini. This is one of the best Calvin Klein releases, in the past decade. It’s the best of the three recent tests of CK fragrances, that I’ve done.

Better than Reveal Men and Eternity Flame, without a doubt (both of which, I enjoyed).

I’d say grab a bottle, if you’re in the market for something tropical or with a dose of vanilla. Eternity Now for Men falls short of being a complete classic, but it definitely tried to hit that mark.

eternity

Bad EDT by Diesel

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I still have some more sample scents, to work my way through and give full reviews to. I’ve had some of these fragrances for months now. One of those being, Bad EDT by Diesel. This has spawned a few editions at this point, so I wanted to see what it was all about. What does this cologne smell like? How does it perform? Is it even worth a try?

What does Bad by Diesel Smell Like?

Notes include: tobacco, cardamom, lavender, caviar, tonka bean, patchouli, violet leaf, and wood

Click here to try: BAD by Diesel Eau de Toilette Spray | 125 mL / 4.2 fl oz 

diesel bad edt review

My Full Wear Review of Bad

Before I get into my own review, let’s see what Diesel says about Bad EDT: A rough woody fragrance, contrasted with an exciting spicy rush and a salty addictive bite.

Upon the initial spray, I immediately get a blast of bergamot, which provides the citrus energy for the composition. This is paired with a fairly strong lavender note, and these two, serve as the first level of the aroma.

Now, this opening gets compared to Invictus, and I totally get why. Though, I’d say it is closer to Invictus Legend. Beyond that, I also pick up on a 212 VIP vibe. Both of those fragrances contain citrus, caviar, and spice.

I will say, that Bad EDT, is definitely not as sweet as Invictus. It’s got more of a spicy and woody opening, than the Paco Rabanne scents.

So, the first level of this fragrance is the bergamot/lavender. Underneath that, is: caviar, cardamom, spices, wood, and tobacco (which will grow in strength later on). The cardamom gives a warm/spicy boost and the caviar brings in a delightful salty quality…but not in an oceanic or aquatic way.

Honestly, at this point, I’m not impressed with Diesel Bad when I smell it close to my skin. I sprayed it on my wrist 3 times, and up close it’s meh, but when my nose isn’t close by…I really like the aroma. The distance seems to really capture the essence of this fragrance.

I keep getting very pleasant whiffs of this stuff, each time I wear it. The more time that I spend with it, the more likable it becomes to my nose.

Once it transitions from its opening act, Bad, becomes much more about the lavender and tobacco. The bergamot note, stays strong throughout but, no longer has the number one spot. Tobacco, woods, and perhaps an amber accord of some sort make up the rest of the cologne.

It is smooth, with some rough edges, a very light patchouli is in there. Lavender gives Bad, a clean-ish feeling, that is offset somewhat by the more earthy ingredients in the composition. With a nice, bright, and juicy citrus note sitting squarely in the middle of it all.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projecting abilities of this cologne are quite strong. Not the most powerful that I’ve come across, but it can absolutely take over a room, in many circumstances. 3 sprays can make that happen, so, expect a very solid scent bubble around you.

The longevity is also very good. It will hit the 8-9 hour range on my skin, easily. After that, it’s faint, but somewhat present still. The performance here, is exactly what I would want from this type of scent.

So, you could probably push this to 10-11 hours with enough sprays. But, for its use case, I don’t really see why you would exactly.

When should Diesel Bad be worn? Casually and for the nightlife. This isn’t a school or office sort of cologne. It has a somewhat youthful vibe, but this could work for men in their late 20s, as well.

Mostly, this will be a party/club/bar fragrance. It should get complements, as it does have a mass appeal, and fairly sexy quality to it. I’d stay away from wearing this in the heat, but moderate temperatures and below, Bad handles well.

Ideally, wear in cold weather when just hanging out or venturing to a bar or lounge.

Overall Impressions of Bad EDT

Do I like Bad EDT by Diesel? I actually do. It’s grown on me, a whole lot, while testing it out. Am I amazed by it? No, but for a younger man’s nightlife fragrance, or one in the Invictus mold…this is a really good wear.

This cologne never seemed to gain any popularity, which means, it should be hitting the discount bin. That’s great news, for guys who want a nightlife scent. It’s underrated and gives you awesome performance.

If you like the Invictus line or 212 VIP, there’s a good chance you’ll enjoy wearing Bad EDT.

The dry down does get better than the opening act, which is just okay. It’s got a lot going on at that point and I don’t completely vibe with it. But, the lavender and tobacco in the latter stages, really gives this one a great upside.

The cardamom and caviar sound a lot more interesting in theory versus what you actually end up with.

It’s not the most incredible thing ever, but if you can get it for cheap, this will be a nice pickup. You get good performance and something that has an attractive quality to it. Nice, though, not spectacular.

Neroli Portofino Forte by Tom Ford

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In today’s review of a Tom Ford fragrance, we have a flanker scent from the high end designer brand, called: Neroli Portofino Forte. This one came out back in 2016. I am going to share my thoughts after wearing this perfume around. I will cover how it smells, what the notes are, when it should be worn, and if it is even worth a buy?

What does Neroli Portofino Forte Smell Like?

Notes include: neroli, leather, bergamot, blood orange, orange blossom, musk, woods, basil, lavender

Click here to try: Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Forte Eau De Parfum 3.4oz/100ml New In Box

My Full Review

The opening of Neroli Portofino Forte was trying its hardest to get me to hate this fragrance. It’s a musky/spice white floral with the citrus notes only being a side attraction. The basil seems pretty strong at the top and contributes to this being way too much to take all at once.

Neroli is naturally leading the way, but I think it gets distracted from, by everything else going on. Musk and basil are overkill, here.

I really don’t enjoy the first five minutes of this scent, but luckily it does improve quite a lot from there. It’s strange, because I do like basil, usually.

Once you move past that opening, Forte really starts to take on the smell of the citrus notes. Kind of backwards, usually the citrus notes will lead off a fragrance. But here, the come on strong after the initial wave.

Blood orange and bergamot come together to create quite a zesty and deliciously juicy aroma. Forte does still have that soapy sort of vibe, that the original Neroli Portofino does, but the citrus is much stronger in this flanker. Forte just feels like a bolder fragrance than the original.

As we dry down further, there is the addition of a leather note in this one. It’s kind of subtle and doesn’t have the same sort of smell as Tuscan Leather, but it is there and does create an interesting element in the heart of this perfume.

There is musk and woods, to go with the white floral notes, as well. The spiciness of the basil, is pretty much gone at this point.

Ultimately, what I am left with is woods, leather, some musk, blood orange, neroli, and orange flowers. It’s later stages, are probably the absolute highlight of Forte, I feel that this is when the perfume really stands out and distinguishes itself.

If I could skip the opening and get to the citrus, leather, and woods…I’d be much higher on this fragrance.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, moderate, but stronger than the original. Neroli Portofino Forte, doesn’t have huge sillage but it will extend about 4-5 feet from the skin for the first few hours, and then come in closer. It never seems weak, but is pretty steady throughout the wear.

For the price, it delivers something solid and doesn’t completely leave me wanting more.

Longevity, is good, better than the original. It stayed on my skin for maybe 7-8 hours, which while not amazing, is a solid workday. Really, with what you’d be paying for this Tom Ford scent, it’s not at all spectacular.

So, projection is worthwhile and it lasts about the minimum I would want to acquire a bottle.

Seasonally, Forte is for warm days. Every aspect of it is absolutely built for the sun and gives off that spring/summer feeling to a tee. It is unisex, but another one that leans more towards the feminine end of things.

Not that it’s girly or anything, just much more in line with perfumes you’d find on the women’s side of thing, as opposed to men’s colognes.

It is classy, somewhat mature, and not a casual summertime scent. It can be worn at the office or other semi-formal or dressed up sorts of events. It’s attractive, but not a sexy or seductive fragrance. Luxurious with plenty of depth for something that is worn during the summer months.

I want to wear this in the daytime. Neroli Portofino Forte isn’t something for the nightlife.

Overall Impressions of Portofino Forte

Overall, do I like Neroli Portofino Forte? I do somewhat. The opening turned me off, but the dry down brought me back in. I think that it is a nice perfume, has a really good blood orange note, and a unique use of leather.

Is it amazing? Not in my mind. It is also a really expensive scent, so, even if I wanted to spend that much money it wouldn’t be a top choice for my personal collection. It’s a well put together fragrance, that smells good, and has an interesting character.

I really don’t like the initial basil blast in the opening and how it interacts with the rest of the composition. This is one that definitely gets better as it moves on. Ultimately, it’s just not a must have for me.