Cologne Reviews

L’eau Super Majeure D’Issey by Issey Miyake

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Issey Miyake has a long list of fragrances that the designer’s brand has put out over the years. Flankers upon flankers. Many times, of colognes that you probably haven’t heard of before. L’eau Super Majeure d’Issey is an EDT Intense release from the brand, from a few years back. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a shot?

L’eau Super Majeure d’Issey Overview

Notes include: citrus, sage, amber, sea notes, wood, black salt, cashmeran, tonka bean, vanilla, patchouli, rosemary

Click here to try: Issey Miyake L’eau Super Majeure D’issey Pour Homme Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Review

Let’s see how Issey Miyake describes this scent: A men’s fragrance inspired by the might of the sea, L’EAU MAJEURE D’ISSEY reinvented Issey Miyake’s pioneering aquatic note for the 21st century. This autumn, L’EAU SUPER MAJEURE D’ISSEY unleashes the power of water, with a new, exhilarating blend.

Super Majeure is not a fragrance that I sought out. It just happened to be in a lot of other samples that I purchased months ago, that I needed for review purposes. So, really I had zero expectations for this Issey Miyake scent.

While I do enjoy the original L’eau d’Issey, the rest of the brand’s fragrances can be hit or miss, and often just disappear from the market without much fanfare. Case in point, Super was released in 2018 and is no longer listed on their website. 

So, I’m probably writing this review for 10 people…

Anyway, this one opens up pretty strange. Looking at the notes, I would expect closer to an Acqua di Gio Profumo, but it really isn’t that at all.

Up top, is a burst of rosemary and sage. Very herbal with a nice intensity. However, this is paired with tonka bean, vanilla, amberwood, salty sea notes, and a touch of citrus. It’s pretty strange, in the early stages.

Honestly, the opening stages almost put me off of this one completely. But, I do think that it improves upon what it started out with. The rosemary is stronger to my nose, but the partnership with the sage is nice here.

I usually enjoy sweet aromas, but I prefer when the tonka and vanilla calm down within this composition. The rosemary, sage, sea notes, woods and amber are the highlights of the composition.

As it dries down, rosemary and wood are the two strongest components. The saltiness of the sea notes has mostly gone away and those two notes are sitting on top of that synthetic smelling amber (much the same as in Light Blue Eau Intense). 

Sitting on top of all that, is just a touch of remaining sweetness, which is just about the right strength for what this cologne is. This is a ‘blue’ scent, but a really dark blue hue, that’s nearly black.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this does have a bit of power to it. It opens pretty strong with a nice intensity, but settles down into something moderate. You’ll know it’s there and so will others, without much effort on your part.

The longevity is pretty good 7-7.5 hours of wear, on my skin. Not an absolute marathon runner, but it’ll provide you plenty of time to enjoy it.

Seasonally, spring and summer is when it’s best. But, if the temperature is at least moderate, Super Majeure wouldn’t feel out of place.

This is more of a casual to semi-formal (for summer) fragrance. This isn’t really a romantic wear or club beast. Maybe it could be a daily wear for the warmer months out of the year, for some guys. Not super versatile, but has its place.

Overall Impressions of L’eau Super Majeure D’Issey

Do I like this fragrance? It’s okay. I hated it the first time that I wore it.

Second and third tries, it seemed better. Though, I still don’t see myself wanting any more. I do also hate having to type this long name that they decided to go with for this cologne.

The herbal blend, with salty seas, wood and a slight sweetness. That’s what you should expect with Super. If that sounds like your type of fragrance, this is a pretty unique and well performing example. Bottles are still cheap, so for a percentage of guys, this will be a steal.

For most men? Probably not. It has a nice aroma, but nothing spectacular or very mass appealing. But, if you’re a fan of rosemary and sage, this is certainly an interesting one to try.

It at least didn’t just mimic Acqua di Gio, points for some originality.

Mr. Burberry Indigo by Burberry

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The Mr. Burberry line has been one that I’ve been much of a fan of. The aromas themselves have been pretty good, but the performances were definitely lacking. As such, when I got a sample of Mr. Burberry Indigo, I wasn’t too excited about this 2018 release. Did this change after testing? How does Indigo perform? Please continue below for my full review.

What does Mr. Burberry Indigo Smell Like?

Notes include: blackcurrant, violet leaf, spearmint, lemon, sage, rosemary, white musk, oak moss, amber, driftwood

Click here to try: Mr. Burberry Indigo at Burberry

My Full Review

Let’s see how Burberry describes this scent: Introducing Mr. Burberry Indigo. A man of contrasts, he is refreshed and invigorated by an impromptu escape from the city.

Indigo opens up with a fresh mint and rosemary blend, with the lemon and blackcurrant notes coming through. It also feels a bit aquatic, with the driftwood and violet leaf notes.

It’s quite reminiscent of the Acqua di Gio series, with the overlapping notes and how it’s structured. Though, it lacks the floral heart and the aquatic element is just a touch versus a pretty major component.

Actually, Burberry Indigo has more of a greenish profile than being a ‘blue’ sort of fragrance. Herbal and outdoorsy with an ever-present freshness from the spearmint to the rosemary to the oak moss notes. The spearmint, is going to be the strongest and most persistent of the bunch.

Each of the herbal notes, seems to get a go at a time to shine. However, it will ultimately be about the spearmint note, blended with amber, driftwood, and a general green aromatic aroma. Burberry Indigo isn’t a super complicated fragrance, but does have an appealing composition.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this is a lighter moderate fragrance. I will say, that it has a much better ability to project itself on my skin versus the other Mr. Burberry colognes that I have reviewed. This EDT will stick 3-5 feet from the skin, at it’s max, but doesn’t hit skin scent territory until later in the wear.

The longevity is also improved when compared to the others. It’s still not great at 6-7 hours of wear, but it’s serviceable and not completely weak. I do wish it had a bit more punch and ability to hang around, not completely terrible, however.

Seasonally, it will be best in moderate to warmer temperatures of spring. But, it could work for most of the year. In the winter, the aromatic freshness, might be a bit much in the cold air. So, that’s probably it’s greatest limitation.

Indigo is also very versatile otherwise. It isn’t an offensive fragrance and not one to shine in the nightlife. However, it can be worn casually, to work, and to many other places. It has no trouble fitting in and can be safely worn by younger or even older guys.

Overall Impressions of Mr. Burberry Indigo

Overall, do I like Mr. Burberry Indigo? As of now, it’s my favorite from the Mr. Burberry series. That’s not saying too much, since I’m not generally a fan of it. That being said, I do enjoy this one. Like a more herbal green take, on an Acqua di Gio style of scent.

This does have a very minty profile, so, if that’s not your thing…skip it. The herbal woodiness and overall clean outdoorsy feeling is pleasant and attractive. I don’t think that Indigo does anything too groundbreaking, but I don’t have too many complaints from wearing it.

The aroma itself is nice, not incredible. The performance is decent enough. To me, it’s an above average cologne that could find a spot in your rotation, for the right price. I’d wear it more as a change of pace from the rest of what I have.

Is it a must buy? No, but it also isn’t one that I would ever regret having. Indigo EDT is worth a try, to see if you want to make a full commitment. I like it.

Spicebomb EDT by Viktor & Rolf

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Spicebomb from Viktor & Rolf, is a fragrance that I was sure that I reviewed on the site many years ago. While recently posting reviews on the Night Vision flankers to this cologne, I realized that I never actually did.

So, it’s time to rectify that mistake, and I’ll be doing so based on the current formulation from a sample that I bought. How does it smell? Is it still worth a buy?

What does Spicebomb EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: cinnamon, saffron, bergamot, pink pepper, pimento berries, white leather, tobacco, grapefruit, vetiver

Click here to try: Viktor and Rolf Spicebomb Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce 

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Viktor & Rolf describes it: Spicebomb is an instant olfactory detonation. An overturning convention which reveals a fragrance that makes no concessions. An explosive concentrate of masculine sensuality.

Spicebomb opens up with that ‘detonation’ of spices and a quite noticeable mix of the grapefruit and bergamot. It’s for sure not a tropical or citrus-laden fragrance, but those notes are present for much of the wear, especially in the initial stages.

Beyond that, the pink pepper note comes through with the cinnamon blend in a pretty even split early on. It’s like a 60/40 deal, to my nose, but the cinnamon will increasingly become dominant.

As it moves along, the sharp blast of spice will settle and be smoothed out by the notes emerging from the heart. I get a lot of saffron and vetiver, which gives Spicebomb a bit more maturity from that youthfully energetic opening act.

Leather comes in, very lightly in the middle, adding to the smoothness and character of this cologne.

At this point, you pretty much get everything you’re going to with this one. It’s cinnamon, saffron, vetiver, leather, and the remaining grapefruit. Finally, it’s the cinnamon, saffron, and vetiver to finish things off until it disappears completely.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, the EDT version still has some punch, but it’s more of a moderate fragrance nowadays. Older bottles projected better for longer, but this latest batch wasn’t bad in terms of its overall power. Just not the same level.

On my skin, I get 6-7 hours of wear from Spicebomb. Yeah, that’s also taken a hit. It went from very good longevity, to solid. If you want a monster performer from this series, Spicebomb Extreme delivers that. Though, it’s a different sort of scent.

Seasonally, this is a autumn and winter wear. The citrus and spice can not only melt in the heat, but can also give off a body odor sort of smell. So, if you live in a more tropical area, you may only get some use from this at night.

Also, it’s more of a casual or nightlife scent. Yes, it has a sexiness to it and is attractive. However, Spicebomb isn’t a formal fragrance and might not be someone’s daily wear cologne. You can get plenty of use from it, it’s just not a jack of all trades.

Overall Impressions of Spicebomb

Overall, do I like Spicebomb? I do. I really enjoyed coming back to this fragrance, after years of not using it. That aroma is still there and still great. I did use Man in Black by Bvlgari during this interlude, which has a very similar albeit boozier profile to Spicebomb EDT.

Spicebomb is still fresh with that great spicy kick, especially up top. As it dries down, you do get a smoother experience with the additional saffron, tobacco, and white leather. The saffron is pretty noticeable during the middle act, which is a good thing, as it is a highly underrated note.

The performance is decent, in its latest incarnation. Is it as good as it used to be? No, but not terrible either. I wish it had its older performance levels, though, it wouldn’t deter me from getting a bottle of the newer batches.

Spicebomb EDT is a classic and one that is well worth getting if you want a dynamic and spicy fresh cologne. The good news, is that, you can usually find really affordable bottles of this stuff online and any change in performance becomes much less of an issue.

I still love how this one smells and will recommend trying it out, if you have yet to ever smell this Viktor & Rolf creation.

Mont Blanc Legend Spirit EDT

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In this post, I am going to take a look at yet another Mont Blanc fragrance for men. This one, is from the Legend series: Legend Spirit eau de toilette. It was launched in 2016 and has enjoyed a bit of popularity on its own since.

However, is it actually any good? Or is it just a failed version of the original? What does it smell like? Does it last for a long time? Please continue below for my full thoughts and experiences with Legend Spirit.

What does Mont Blanc Legend Spirit Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, pink pepper, bergamot, musk, aquatic accord, lavender, cardamom, oak moss, wood

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Spirit Eau de Toilette, 3.3 Fl Oz

My Full Review

So, Legend Spirit, is obviously a flanker fragrance to the original and popular Legend from Mont Blanc. Does this new one smell like the original? Not really, other than sharing some citrus and lavender. Legend Spirit opens up with mainly grapefruit (with some bergamot) for the top citrus note, cardamom, and an aquatic accord.

On my skin, I pick up a lot of spicy warm cardamom, sitting in a watery base. Legend Spirit also gets compared to Invictus Aqua, but to me, it doesn’t really favor that fragrance either. Yes, they are in the same sort of category, but not clones. Invictus Aqua has a salt water aroma, that this lacks, and none of the cardamom. Pink pepper and citrus? Yes, but that’s about all.

Even though this Mont Blanc has an aquatic accord, it does have underlying dryness, from wood, musk, and oak moss. This gets more pronounced as the wear moves on.

At the start, however, it is a nice citrus with water notes and pink pepper/cardamom giving it a depth and warmth. It really seems to hit its stride, at about 10 minutes in, and everything starts to settle down.

During the dry down, much of the citrus notes burn away. There is residual grapefruit throughout. As I said, it gets drier, the further along you get into the wear. The pink pepper and cardamom, really seem to begin to carry this fragrance forward.

The pink pepper is a dead ringer for that found in Guess Seductive. What I get is an aquatic cologne with cardamom leading the way, lavender in second, pink pepper and grapefruit sitting beyond that. At it’s base: oak moss and slight musk.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this EDT, doesn’t have a huge sillage. At first, it can be pretty good, with a few solid sprays before it sits much closer to the skin. I really don’t pick it up as much as I do with Legend Night, which has better sillage with an equal number of sprays.

The longevity is okay, but really not that great. It will go for 4-6 hours on my skin, before disappearing. It’s actually pretty disappointing for this price point. 2-3 more hours and this would be pretty great.

The Legend series as a whole, doesn’t have amazing performance. To me, there mostly mediocre to decent, in that regard.

Seasonally, I like it as a spring/summer wear, but it is good to go in any season. It won’t ever feel out of place. Legend Spirit is a very fresh scent, that can work well casually, at work, or even on a date.

Nice blend that is semi-aquatic, with a dry woodiness. Appealing aroma for what it is.

People seem to really dig this scent and it will be enjoyable for the ladies. Has enough maturity for an older man to wear it, but doesn’t have some overbearing profile, that would prevent a teen from wearing it either. Very versatile cologne.

Overall Impressions of Legend Spirit

Overall, do I like Legend Spirit? I do. I enjoy it much more than the original Legend, but I still prefer Legend Night, overall. This is a nice twist on the citrus aquatic fragrance. Yes, it is familiar, and shares aspects with many other scents.

However, the cardamom and pink pepper, help to separate it from the pack and produce something that is very nice and quite useful. This would serve well as a daily wear fragrance, or a sort of, do-everything scent.

Is it the best ever? No, but it does everything well, except for the longevity. Even that’s not completely terrible. It’s a good wear for the summer.

I wouldn’t be mad paying retail price for a bottle of Spirit. At a discount, this Montblanc is a worthwhile pickup, that can cover plenty of bases for you.

Joop! Homme by Joop

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Joop! Homme has been around since 1989 and has managed to maintain its popularity among men ever since. The name kind of threw me off of it the first time I encountered this fragrance, but I was quickly won over when I found out what it smelled like.

Joop! is not only a great scent and has a name that exclaims itself but it is also very affordable, which is something many guys are looking for in a fragrance.

Though, it’s inexpensiveness, doesn’t coincide with any weakness in this sharp men’s scent. With all that in mind, I wanted to take a bit of a closer look at this floral based men’s cologne and break down what makes it worth trying out.

Other pages to take a look at: Best Colognes Under $30, Top Long Lasting Fragrances

What does Joop! Pour Homme Smell Like?

Notes include: orange blossom, vanilla, cinnamon, mandarin, amber, cedar, jasmine, bergamot, lily, heliotrope, tonka bean, patchouli, and sandalwood

Click here to try:  Joop Pour Homme Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

Joop! Homme is an interesting fragrance. Not only because of the name and its exclamation point, but also because it is a masculine floral scent.

Many of the more masculine florals are toned down, but not Joop!, it opens with a bang, and can be in your face and even insufferable to some folks.

This is not the kind of cologne that will appeal to everyone, it’s brash, it’s sweet, and it can be a lot to take for the first hour plus of wear. That being said, I love this stuff, at times.

Joop! Homme opens up with an intense spice, led by cinnamon and patchouli. It’s also warmed by amber and has a few sharp citrus notes poking through. Brace yourself, this is where it can be a pretty intense experience.

It’s spicy, syrupy sweet, and floral with a bit of honeyed essence in there to boot. There is a vanilla note that is quite prominent, but it is dominated by the spices in here for the first couple of hours of wear.

This purple/pinkish juice surprisingly has a dark edge, especially when considering the list of ingredients. Yes, it’s sweet but it has quite a deep composition, and a definite masculine side. The floral notes are nice, I personally enjoy orange blossom in scents, as well as jasmine.

Those two, are fairly commonplace in men’s colognes, but heliotrope is sort of the wildcard in Joop! These floral notes begin to really emerge during the dry down period as some of the spiciness begins to subside and the sweet syrupy aroma takes hold.

You get peaks of the sandalwood and cedar, which help give it a woodsy base from which to build off of. However, it is ultimately a cinnamon/vanilla floral, that is smooth and warm but opens with a big spice. Is it for everyone? Nope. But there are plenty of folks who will love it.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Joop! Homme is very strong. Now, I want to note that with long-selling fragrances, reformulations happen.

Sometimes, the companies change the formula to save money, and sometimes things change due to regulations.

The vintage Joop! is insanely strong, like, top tier all-time in terms of being a powerhouse for a mainstream scent.

Nowadays, it still has great sillage but lots of EU regulations, have cut much of the heart out of Joop! The last bottle that I purchased, still was plenty powerful, and had good longevity in the 7-9 hour range with just 2 sprays.

Seasonally, this one is a cold weather star. It can also do most of the springtime, but in the summer, it’s always felt too messy to my nose.

Is it versatile? Sort of. It can be really brash and not always the best option for close quarters.

I once wore it to work and a female co-worker of mine commented on how ‘damn spicy’ it was. Haha. So, yeah, maybe go with one spray at work or school. However, it’s been a club beast since its release, and still works there up to today.

Joop! has an aroma that is more suited to a younger man, think teens and twenties. I’ve pretty much outgrown it and don’t currently own a bottle, but I think I’d still wear it, if I didn’t already have countless bottles and samples of other stuff lying around for this website.

Some women are going to hate this, while others absolutely love it. I’ve experienced all sorts of reactions while wearing it. This is such a love or hate it type of cologne.

Overall Impressions of Joop! Pour Homme

Overall, Joop! is a fragrance that begs to be worn by a confident man. It has a certain energy to it and it always seems to draw women towards the guy wearing it or repel, based on their tastes.

It is a strong cologne, so, not too much is needed for the desired effect, but that’s a good thing anyways as you won’t have to buy new bottles constantly.

I love the boldness, the periods of spiciness, the vanilla, and the floral notes which aren’t too common in a men’s fragrance. Plus, it delivers total performance, at a cheap price point.

It’s not my favorite fragrance ever, but it’s one that I definitely had my time enjoying when I was younger. I don’t  have a bottle anymore. Though, I suppose that could be possible in the future.

If you are looking for a bold and sexy fragrance, then you may want to give Joop! a tryout. It’s really a throwback to the 1980s and has a unique vibe that you still won’t find with many men’s scents.

It’s not always beloved, but Joop! Homme can still bring the intensity, and has a place in many men’s collection.