Cologne Reviews

Burberry Brit for Men

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Despite the overwhelming popularity of my post on the top smelling Burberry fragrances for men, I had yet to do a review of Burberry Brit and thought that I would remedy that oversight today.

In this post, I want to give a general overview of Brit, my impressions of it, how well it wears, and whether or not it should merit consideration of a purchase.

Note: I have updated this review, a few years after posting the original, to give new thoughts and expand more upon Burberry Brit for Men.

What Does Burberry Brit Smell Like?

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Notes include: wild roses, tonka bean, green mandarin, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, cedar

Click here to try Burberry Brit:BURBERRY Brit for Men Eau de Toilette, 1.0 fl. oz

My Full Wear Review

My immediate impulse when smelling Burberry Brit is to compare it with other Burberry fragrances, such as London. Whereas London is more of a rugged, woodsy, tobacco type of scent, Brit strikes me as something much smoother.

The opening is fresh and delightful and one is immediately drawn into the subtle spice of the nutmeg/ginger/tonka notes; and the quite powdery aroma, which balances it out.

The mandarin and bergamot citrus notes are present at the top and provide their usual brightness. This is a nice contrast from the fresh spiciness of the rest of the composition.

The opening is really dominated by this subdued citrus and fresh spice combination. There is an air of sweetness within Brit during this stage of the wear, the citrus and tonka bean, seem to be creating that effect.

Yet, the cologne overall still has this green outdoorsy cleanliness during this time, as well.

What is interesting about Brit is that it contains wild roses but that it doesn’t give off the extreme rosiness of a cologne such as Dunhill Desire.

Brit isn’t in any way a loud cologne, I think it really does a fantastic job of taking different elements and working them together in harmony instead of having one dominate feature.

With Brit, you get a warm spice, fresh green/woodsy notes, with a hint of citrus provided by the green mandarin note, and a baby powder type of finish.

The dry down is the make or break period for most guys with this fragrance, I’d say. The dark powdery rose, isn’t going to be enjoyable for some folks, but it is very well done.

Again, it isn’t a super feminine or in your face rose. It’s smoothed out by tonka bean, a cedar base, with the same spices with the ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg notes.

Longevity, Sillage, and Versatility

Longevity wise, this is a really good performer and will typically last around 8 hours give or take. It isn’t a projection beast by any means but it does a great job at presenting itself as a moderate scent.

It’s always had solid sillage on my skin, consistent, but not a scent bomb. It’s more of a strong starter, then, lighter after a few hours. For much of the wear it’s going to be an intimate kind of cologne.

Nevertheless, in all my years of having various bottles of this scent, I’ve never been disappointed by its performance. It holds up well.

 

Burberry Brit is another safe option for the autumn or winter months, just like Burberry for Men (Also see: Brit vs Burberry for Men Comparison).

However, I think Brit would be a better wintertime wear. I’ll usually wear it on colder days, but occasionally I will put some on in the evening, as something casual.

Brit for Men isn’t a summertime fragrance, though, it can be worn in the more moderate temperatures of spring. Still, much better as a colder climate scent.

Brit is an option that can be worn safely at work or even for class. It’s not going to overpower and it smells quite clean and pleasant. Teen guys can wear it, but it doesn’t have that really youthful vibe, and has enough maturity to be worn by someone much older.

Overall Impressions of Burberry Brit for Men

Overall, I really enjoy this stuff. Brit is a great choice for everyday wear in the fall or winter months of the year.

It is a solid performer for school or work and safe to use in either environment. It isn’t necessarily a ‘sexy’ type of cologne but it smells damn good and is attractive enough with the ladies. I’d definitely rate it as a buy.

This has become my third most worn Burberry cologne at this point, as I usually go with Burberry for Men or London depending on the occasion, and which bottle I have.

(Edit: I have purchased a full bottle, in the autumn, and have been wearing it more than the others. I’ve been loving Brit for Men, as of late. I think it’s become my second favorite behind London now).

Still, Brit for Men is a fairly unique guy’s cologne, and does everything quite well.

Really, there haven’t been too many great releases from this brand in a long while. The Mr. Burberry series was decent, but nothing must have. Still, well over a decade later Brit just works, and is among this designers top scents.

The Scent Absolute for Him by Hugo Boss

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This is the last of the Hugo Boss ‘The Scent’ reviews, as I’ve covered all of the releases up to this point (I may have to double check that). I thought that I might as well end with what I consider to be the best of the series, The Scent Absolute.

The aroma, the performance, and entire package is just superior to the others, in my opinion. What does it smell like? How long does it last? Continue below for my full take.

What does The Scent Absolute for Him Smell Like?

Notes include: maninka, ginger, vetiver, Mondia root

Click here to try: Hugo Boss The Scent Absolute for Him Eau De Parfum, 1.6 Fl Oz

My Full Review

The Scent Absolute is probably the most closely related to the original cologne from this Hugo Boss series. That’s a great thing, as I really enjoyed how that one smelled, but it had terrible performance.

However, The Scent Absolute corrects that, gives me a fresh and spicier profile, and isn’t the powdery chocolate of Private Accord (which is nice, but I prefer the maninka fruit). Yet, Absolute is also the more linear of the two parfums.

Absolute for Him kicks off with the fresh spiciness of ginger. It’s a bold use of the ginger note and it actually has a bit of a lemony-quality to it. Very nice. This is paired with the signature maninka fruit of the line, giving the composition a fruity warmth.

It’s a fruity and spicy opening act, with somewhat rum-like booziness in the mix. It doesn’t actually have that as an accord, but the fragrance puts out that sort of vibe (mondia roots). Absolute is masculine, attractive, and is definitely unique while retaining that The Scent DNA.

Super easy to wear.

I mentioned that this is a linear fragrance. Well, there is a change. The spice burns off and you are left with a mix of the maninka and vetiver the rest of the way. Fresh, a touch of earthiness, and smoke.

That’s about all the development I get from this fragrance. Though, I don’t think it needs to go much further.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one starts out on the upper edges of what could be considered moderate (4-7 foot projection), before moving in to a lighter moderate (3-4 feet). It’s not a complete beast, but performs very well when compared to the others.

The Scent Absolute also has good longevity. Gets around 8-9 hours of wear. Again, don’t expect a monster projection beast, but this one does hang around for a nice long while and doesn’t flake out early.

Seasonally, this has autumn and winter written all over it. Not a totally heavy or dense fragrance, but that spice would kind of be off-putting in the heat of the summer months. If you have relatively mild springs where you live, it would work then too.

Absolute is masculine. Not a teenagers fragrance, but not exactly formal either. It can venture into the nightlife and is great for casual wear. This is more of a ‘sexy’, mass appealing cologne, that leans much more into evening wear.

I don’t find it to be particularly out of place anywhere, I just don’t consider it a jack of all trades kind of cologne.

Overall Impressions of The Scent Absolute

Overall, do I like The Scent Absolute? Yes, again, it is my favorite out of all of these colognes. If I had to buy one from the series, I’d go with Absolute, without question.

It isn’t a very complicated fragrance. Though, I love the sweet maninka fruit, and ginger is among my favorite notes. Together, it is damn near brilliant. The slight rum impression is an additional bonus.

I’m not as big of a fan of the vetiver dry down, but it’s solid overall. The performance at least gives you your money’s worth, unlike some of the others.

This is a very good perfume for him. It’s just not a total must buy for me, personally. If you’re a fan of the other ‘The Scent’ fragrances, this is one that you need to check out, and give strong consideration to purchasing.

I dig it and went through the entire sample pretty easily. If this scent sounds like your kind of thing, give it a try before it disappears from the market entirely.

Y EDT by Yves Saint Laurent

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It’s been a while since I’ve reviewed a Yves Saint Laurent fragrance on the site, at least in the men’s lineup. As such, I am going to be doing reviews on the Y fragrances for men that were released, fairly recently.

In this post, I will be covering the eau de toilette version first, and do the EDP in another write up later. As usual, I will cover what’s in this scent, how it smells, performs, and if it is worth a try?

What Does Y EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, ginger, aldehydes, violet leaf, geranium, sage, cedar, musk, incense, ambergris, fir

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau De Toilette Spray 100ml/3.3oz

My Full Wear Review

My first impression upon smelling Y, is of just how incredibly fresh this fragrance is. Very cool, crisp, airy, and quite clean. I like it. The bergamot is light, but adds a great citrus juiciness to the center.

The aldehydes are distinct and give Y a bright and sunny disposition. Add to that, an ambergris note which isn’t too heavy but plays off of the other ingredients, much as it does in Creed fragrances. The opening is delightful.

The next layer to hit my nose, is a bit of violet leaf and ginger. The ginger brings forth a light spice and the violet leaf isn’t super prominent, but does provide its familiar aroma. Y is actually a pretty straightforward scent that doesn’t undergo too much development.

When it does dry down further, it is muskier and woodier, than it had been in the opening and you get some fruitiness to go along with that.

Does it still retain its freshness in the dry down? Yes. It is sweet with a light and airy character and a solid woody foundation with sage sprinkled in. It sort of strikes me as a non-oceanic Acqua di Gio Absolu, not that they smell exactly the same, but do give off a very similar vibe.

It has that citrus top, with an herbal spice, sitting on top of a not too heavy but dry wood. Definitely some cedar, in there, and a touch of fir.

What I ultimately get in terms of notes are: citrus, aldehydes, sage, cedar, ambergris, violet leaf, and the remnants of apple and ginger. Is it super complex? No. It is, however, very well put together.

Y EDT feels familiar, while having its own unique composition. This one is very easy to wear and enjoy.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I’d say it’s pretty moderate for the first half of wear, and then is a skin scent. The sillage of Y EDT isn’t huge, but it’s respectable for much of the wear, and then sticks really close to the skin. I definitely wouldn’t call it weak, but it isn’t supposed to be a ‘bomb’ cologne.

The longevity is good, but not insane, on my skin. I can get 7-ish hours of wear from one application. That fits most of my purposes, so I have no real complaints.

Seasonally, spring and summer. Actually, it can be worn year round without much fuss, but it would be great in the heat. It’s light and won’t get all nasty once the heat and humidity kicks in. It’s nice to have a scent like that on your shelf, when it gets to that time of year.

In terms of the versatility of Y, it can cover a lot of bases. It’s not too uptight to not be worn casually, but it can also be worn in an office setting or dressed up.

It has an appealing scent that will fetch complements and can be worn on dates. I’d say that it is more attractive than ‘sexy’, but women do seem to enjoy its aroma. It’s an easy one for most people to enjoy and i

Y EDT isn’t the type of scent that will take over a room, but does give you a very solid performance, in a light/upbeat presentation. I can’t really image that there are too many people, who would hate this cologne.

Overall Impression

Overall, do I like Y EDT? I’d have to say, yes. It’s nothing that is super unique or a must have, but it does smell very good to me.

I really enjoy the freshness and cleanliness of the fragrance, a great balance of sweet, and fresh spice. It has solid performance and is super versatile.

I have no real complaints about this cologne, it is safe enough to be a blind buy, and should get plenty of positive reaction from people while wearing it. It has been enjoyable to test out and wear around, I’m glad YSL moved in a new direction, and released this type of scent.

Since writing this initial review, I have also tried out Y Eau de Parfum. To me, the EDP version is actually much better than this, at least performance wise (and smell, in my opinion).

A bit different, but enhance everything that was great about this one. So, I would recommend getting the EDP vs. the EDT, unless you get some unreal price break.

Update: Beyond the EDP, Le Parfum and a few others have also been released since I first published this. Fraiche is limited to summer, but I think that I like it more than the EDT. While I don’t dislike the EDT, I feel like its my least favorite of the series.

At the end of the day, I don’t see a reason to own versus the others…unless you personally really love the smell.

Invictus EDT by Paco Rabanne

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Paco Rabanne ‘s most famous fragrance is 1 Million, which comes displayed in a gold ingot bottle. However, 1 Million is not this design house’s, only great scent. Invictus is another great fragrance choice for guys who like something that is fresh and sporty.

Since its release, Invictus has been a best seller and a permanent staple for many younger guys. It is one that has become exceedingly popular in bars and night clubs around the word.

This one also comes in a great, and interesting bottle, but I want to focus this review on what’s inside of that container…since that’s what counts, isn’t it?

What does Invictus by Paco Rabanne Smell Like?

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Notes include: grapefruit, sea notes, mandarin orange, bay leaf, jasmine, ambergris, oak moss, and more.

Click here to try: Invictus by Paco Rabanne for Men 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray

My Full Review

There are many scents on the market, which are just all together boring or flat. Sometimes, as men, we need to switch it up and add something with a bit of flair and energy to it. Invictus is a scent, which I feel, does just that.

What I like about the opening, note is how the citrusy/fruity notes captivate the senses, and locks people’s attention solely on you. That isn’t to say that this is a loud or obnoxious fragrance, but it does emanate a certain confidence.

The fruit notes, ambergris, bay leaf, and aquatic elements in Invictus, combine to give the scent a sort of bubblegum like aroma, at the top. It is quite sweet and has that light powdered sugar scent, for a little bit early on.

I didn’t like it all that much, upon my initial tests years ago, but I’ll admit it did grown on me thereafter.

The bubble gum aroma in Invictus, isn’t the same warm spicy kind found in, Ultra Male. It’s got a bit of the same vibe that the edition of 1 Million called, 1 Million Cologne, has.

It’s a an aquatic fruity sweetness, but leans more toward the blue watery end than the candied end of the spectrum.

As it dries down, this Paco Rabanne cologne, moves away from the fruitiness of the opening. The ambergris, really starts to peak through, and adds a saltier touch to the aquatic notes. It feels more oceanic, as it move forward, and less of that clean aqua smell.

Beyond that, the bay leaf comes in a bit more, but especially the jasmine. It’s got a solid floral soapiness, a few hours into it, with a dry woody base. It’s nice, still has a smooth vibe, but I think that I prefer the start over this period of the wear.

In the end, I get a very fresh scent, with lots of citrus (fairly synthetic citrus) and a nice salty marine aroma. It’s clean with a masculine base of wood to tie things all together. It isn’t overly complex, but not all fragrances need to be.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

I do think that this cologne would appeal more to the younger man. (let’s say high school/college age to early 30s), and it is for sure one that captures the attention of girls.

I like it, but females seem to respond to this one more positively, than I do. Why? Who knows? It just works.

If you’re older, you’d almost certainly want to go with something else as your daily wear. If you really love the smell of Invictus, just keep a bottle for yourself when you want to wear it.

Invictus is another great option for summertime wear and even into the fall months. Honestly, though, it’s one that can easily work in all climates. It’s versatility is probably Invictus’ greatest strength.

I don’t think I’d wear this stuff formally, but it can fit in just about anywhere else, that you’d want to wear it. Mostly for casual situations or a night out.

It projects well without being overbearing (unless you put on too much, but what cologne doesn’t?) and it is a scent which will last for a good amount of time. In fact, I could smell remnants of it on my shirt for a few days after I wore it.

Update: I have smelled this cologne on other guys, a few times in public, in the past year. It is absolutely grating, as they probably doused themselves with it. Avoid that, for the sake of others.

On the skin, it gets about 6-7 hours, and sometimes a bit more. The sillage is quite large for the first few hours, but becomes pretty moderate for me, thereafter. It goes from beast to simply a pretty strong fragrance. The performance is very solid, however.

For an eau de toilette, the strength is good in comparison to others at this price point.

Overall Impression of Invictus EDT

The downside to this cologne? Well, if you’re one who is really into having the most complex and unique scents ever, then you might one to skip this one.

However, if you are a young guy and just want to smell good and have a scent that can work well for any occasion then Invictus is a very good choice.

It is a moderately priced cologne that will leave the wearer feeling clean and fresh, all day long. It delivers a good performance, already has plenty of fans, and has a fine aroma.

It still isn’t a fragrance, that I’m personally crazy about, but I respect it. For me, it is wearable, but for many others Invictus is lovable.

Since this has been released, Invictus has spawned many flankers, including Invictus Intense and Legend. I think both of those are better than the original, not leagues above it, but still quite a bit more well put together than Invictus EDT.

The good news is that you can usually find cheaper bottles of this stuff nowadays, at the discount sellers and the like.

This is still a pretty nice cologne, that can have its place. Though, I feel that it has been surpassed, by members of its own line and by other scents under the Paco Rabanne name.

Maritime Deep Blue by Tommy Bahama

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Along with my sample of Maritime Journey from Tommy Bahama, I also picked up one of Maritime Deep Blue, which I had tried out before. Now, I wanted to revisit this scent and give it a full and proper review for the site. How does it smell? Perform? When should it be worn? Continue below for my full take after testing it recently.

What does Maritime Deep Blue Smell Like?

Notes include: geranium, cedar, orris, juniper, bergamot, cardamom, water lily, freesia, musk, moss

Click here to try: Tommy Bahama Maritime Deep Blue Eau de Cologne Spray, 2.5 Fl Oz

My Full Wear Review

Upon the first spray, I immediately get the similarities between this and both Polo Blue and Eternity Aqua. The main commonalities are mostly in the beginning of the wear and they aren’t entirely the same, but it’s pretty close.

The main difference for me, is the both Polo Blue and Eternity Aqua feel much more aquatic and coldly crisp than this Maritime Deep Blue. Those both contain the cucumber note, along with the citrus or tart plum, in the case of the CK fragrance.

Maritime Deep Blue, opts for water lily and a nice dose of juniper for freshness. It doesn’t have an exact aquatic aroma, but it’s a decent facsimile at first. Geranium is a very light note in Deep Blue, but it is also found in the Polo scent, adding to the overlap.

Once we get past that first wave of bergamot citrus, rosemary, and juniper; this one will become more floral and woodsy. I know the advertising and name makes you think oceanic, but I’d set my expectations for freshness. This is a classic fresh sort of cologne.

The spice of cardamom and rosemary is a very nice contrast against the juniper and juicy citrus.

The next phase,  the juniper and cardamom hang around, and the water lily, cedar, and freesia really come through. At this point, Maritime Deep Blue becomes a lot more distinct than it opens up.

Nevertheless, the woods/musk/spice are found in all three of these colognes, and keeps them in the same relative area.

I end up with a dry and fresh spice, floral touches, and a clean woody base. Pretty simple, but well done.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Like other Tommy Bahama fragrances, Deep Blue isn’t a powerhouse, and falls toward the lighter moderate end of the spectrum. With three sprays to the same spot, this one is noticeable but isn’t going to carry over the entirety of a room.

Probably, a 4-6 foot scent bubble, that gets progressively closer as it dries down.

Longevity wise, 5-7 hours. There is a lot worse from this brand, in terms of performance, but it isn’t an outstanding example of an all day wear. Thus far, it is much closer to the 5 hour mark for most wears versus 7.

Update: Yeah, like 4 out of 5 times, Maritime Blue will be on the skin for around five hours. Usually, with low humidity, it has better odds at going longer. But, it’s usually very humid around here.

Seasonally, I like this as a spring/summer wear. Though, it’s fine to wear here in January, as the citrus isn’t massive. It can be a bit too fresh for the winter, when I prefer to go with something warmer and with some greater thickness.

In the summer, it can get eaten up a bit by the humidity. However, it also smells at its absolute best and just works with the general vibe of the season.

Maritime Deep Blue is mainly a casual warm weather cologne. It can also be worn in daily, semi-formal situations. Light enough for the office, if need be. Fresh and clean, not really sexy, and not a nightlife focused scent.

Overall Impressions of Maritime Deep Blue

Do I like this fragrance? I do. I think that it’s one of the better offerings from Tommy Bahama. It’s not very original, but it at least mimics fragrances which smell nice. However, I don’t really love either the Polo or Calvin Klein, but can enjoy wearing them.

The performance is okay. It’s not great and actually lags behind its two comparable colognes. I do really like the use of juniper in Deep Blue, I think it adds a layer that the other two don’t have. Is that enough to buy? For me, no.

I can get Eternity Aqua for much cheaper, usually. Plus, Polo Blue EDT, isn’t the best one from that lineup. Polo Deep Blue or Blue EDP are both better. So, while I like Maritime Deep Blue, I don’t really see a place for it.

Maybe, at $15-30 this would be worthwhile, but I can’t see me needing a bottle at near full price. If it’s like $80-something, I’d pass. Although, I’ve been seeing Tommy Bahama fragrances for cheaper as of late. So, it’s probably pretty likely you’ll be able too grab this one near that price point.