Cologne Reviews

I’ve been doing a lot of posts on Prada colognes lately and I do have a few more coming down the pipeline. Today, I am finally getting around to writing a review of the original Luna Rossa. I guess I could’ve done this at any time, but I just never did, and wanted to buy a new mini bottle so my thoughts wouldn’t have to rely on old memories.

As usual, I will cover how it smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not Luna Rossa is worth a purchase.

Note: I have come back and updated this review, a few years after the original, after spending much more time with this fragrance.

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What does Luna Rossa Smell Like?

Notes include:  lavender, sage, spearmint, ambrette, ambroxan, and bitter orange

Click here to try: Prada Luna Rossa Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

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My Full Wear Review

The first few minutes after spraying Luna Rossa on my skin, I get a very fresh blend of citrus and lavender. The citrus is orange and it is bright with quite an upbeat vibe. After that initial blast of citrus, the spearmint note begins to emerge and take over a larger part of the composition.

I really enjoy how the juiciness of the citrus plays off of the calm vibe of the lavender, it weakens gradually, but that top is great.

Luna Rossa has such an interesting and pretty unique blend, even the mint note has a different style from something like Guerlain Homme. The mint doesn’t have that same sharpness to it and is smoothed out but the lavender note, which is ubiquitous in all of the Luna Rossa fragrances.

The mintiness is joined by sage, so you get even more of a boost of fresh spice. Yet, it always remains clean, with that green herbal freshness and not a more distinct pepper like found in other fragrances.

I think I’ll say that this is a ‘breezy’ kind of cologne. While the amber is there, it doesn’t have that cloud-like warmth that hangs over you, it’s a cooler and refreshing breeze. The drydown, has more of a powdery/soapy feeling to it, but always retains the extreme freshness throughout.

The amber/ambroxan does show itself more in the latter stages of the wear, and by that point, it is mostly just lavender, a weaker mint, and that ambroxan.

Still, it is a very nice scent, even in the latter stages. Is it pretty simple and linear? Yes, but Luna Rossa works so very well, within that simplicity. I have found myself wearing this more often lately, in the later part of this spring, as it is such an easy cologne to reach for.

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Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of Luna Rossa is pretty moderate. This one doesn’t need to be a bomb. In fact, it works much better being subdued, it’d get on your nerves if it were super loud.

This doesn’t mean that it’s weak by any stretch, you’ll know its there, but it won’t suffocate. I have a mini splash bottle and find that a few dabs are perfectly adequate. It also stays stable after application, Luna Rossa isn’t a scent that quickly turns into a skin scent.

Longevity, is good on my skin, I don’t think it’s amazing in this regard but it seems to fall into the 6-8 hour range…usually the higher end of the spectrum. It has been supremely consistent with how long it lasts.

It could be better in terms of how long it sticks around, though, it still is above average when compared to the whole lot of designer fragrances.

Is Luna Rossa a versatile fragrance? Yes, it is. However, it seems strange because you really don’t know how to categorize this scent at times. It can be worn casually, at work, or on a date. It’s fresh and clean, but also sexy, in its own way. Luna Rossa is a soft fragrance but also masculine in its presentation.

Warm weather, cold weather…it works. As I’ve said, I’ve been wearing this Prada a lot lately, and have been receiving plenty of complements when I have it on. It seems to appeal to women, pretty much across the board.

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Overall Impressions of Luna Rossa

Overall, do I recommend Luna Rossa by Prada? I do. I actually enjoy wearing all of the Luna Rossa scents, as I think that they each have their own appeal.

The original, has a great citrus opening and a unique blend of lavender and spearmint. It grows on you, and has such a simple minimalist appeal, that it defies expectations at times.

Luna Rossa is a good staple for almost any man to have in his rotation or for a guy who wants an everyday wear. You must enjoy the smell of lavender, if not, you might look elsewhere. However, it has enough of the mint/sage and orange, for the lavender not to feel like too much of a distraction.

It is bright and energetic, yet has a coldness about it, that is appealing. The closest to the original in the Luna Rossa lineup, is probably Luna Rossa Eau Sport.

Luna Rossa is an all-around performer, very balanced and easy to wear. This is one of my favorite Prada fragrances to spray on.

Yes, I am indeed still working my way through the samples of all of the Parfums de Marly colognes that I received a month plus ago. If you want to check out the rest, they are along with every other review I’ve ever done, on the fragrance reviews page.

We have now made it to Godolphin from this line and as always I want to explore and break down what makes this scent tick. How it performs, smells, what’s inside, etc. Godolphin was released in 2010.

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What does Godolphin Smell Like?

Notes include: saffron, leather, iris, rose, jasmine, amber, musk, cedar, thyme, mate, and vetiver

Click here to try: Parfums de Marly Godolphin Men’s Edp Spray, 4.2 Ounce

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My Full Wear Review

Right off the bat, I’m going to tell you that I enjoy this fragrance. In fact, I’ve already placed it on my top five fragrance from Parfums de Marly. Just so there’s no confusion about where my thoughts are going to fall on this particular cologne.

The opening is a leather and musk mix. Like the primal animal spice of the musk is sitting on top of the leather note and it also seems to feature some sort of metallic like aroma, of which I’m not quite sure what it is.

Perhaps, that is just the way the saffron is mixing with the other herbal notes and how it is all pieced together.

In a lot of ways, it is like Tuscan Leather and Ombre Leather by Tom Ford. It’s not an exact replica of either, but if you’re familiar with those, this is along those lines.

After the initial 10-15 minutes or so, the musk dies down quite a bit, and I get some sweeter fruit undertones and the emergence of the floral notes. Rose, in particular.

It has that bit of sweetness but it is combined with a dark and intriguing warmth one would expect from a masculine type of fragrance.

The saffron is the other main player here with the dominant leather. I don’t want to make Godolphin seem like an overly masculine scent because it does have those floral notes which give the cologne a great depth and moderation.

This is what I get for pretty much the rest of the way, a sweet leather blend, with a rich rose note, and a somewhat metallic aroma. I really love the saffron note in here. It’s such an underutilized ingredient outside of these more niche designers, but it’s fantastic. 

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Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it is fairly strong for the first couple of hours, but then becomes much more of a moderate scent. The sillage isn’t as powerful versus some of the other options by PdM, but it still has a nice strength to it. 

Godolphin also has very good longevity, easily eclipsing the 8+ hour range, and comfortably hitting double digit hours in most situations. It’s not the elite of the elite, but it does give you at least a full standard workday.

Update: Coming back to this fragrance, it seems to hit the 11 hour mark consistently. Occasionally, I’ll still pick it up after that, but 11 is about what I expect to get each time. 

I would say that it is a very versatile scent, at least within its seasonal range. Yes, this is a colder weather fragrance, but I’ve worn it in indoor environments here in the summertime.

It can be worn casually, but I think that it fits best when dressed up. Not necessarily formal wear, but for work or for a night on the town. It has a sense of intrigue and sexiness that will draw complements.

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Overall Impressions of Godolphin

Overall, do I like Godolphin? Obviously. I think it is a great leather based scent with a complex and amazingly put together profile. Like other Parfums de Marly colognes, it is pricy, but if you’re in the market for this scent…that shouldn’t be too much of a hurdle.

It smells great, performs well, and has a versatile ability to be worn in many situations. It has its similarities to the Tom Ford leather fragrances, while still maintaining its own unique character and providing you another option. 

The leather and saffron combination is very good. It’s probably never going to be a super mass appealing cologne, but Godolphin is easily one that can become a signature scent for the right man. 

Montblanc’s Legend line of fragrances have been monstrously successful over the past decade-plus and it still keeps cranking out flanker colognes to the original EDT. The latest, is Legend Eau de Parfum, which is going to stick much closer to the original release than something like Night. I received a sample of this with an order a few months back, so, I’ve of course tested it out. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it really worth a try?

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What does Legend Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: violet leaf, leather, jasmine, moss, bergamot, woods

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend eau de parfum 3.3 fl oz, 3.3 fl. oz.

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My Full Review

Violet leaf is the focus of Legend EDP from the get go. It is joined by a nice amount of citrus from the bergamot, which will dissipate pretty quickly, and leather. The leather and violet leaf are going to be the main distinctions from Legend EDT.

It’s got a fresh opening act, with a greenish aroma coming from the base, which is mostly from the ‘oakmoss’ aroma they use nowadays. Clean, but I notice that the leather never really comes through all that heavy in the mix. I mean, it’s there but doesn’t take over on my skin.

After a little while, the bergamot will fade out. I know there is jasmine in this blend, but I don’t pick it out as a separate aroma. What continues is violet leaf, woods, moss, and leather. That’s basically what I get for the rest of the way.

It feels flat and like there’s nothing there to give it much of a personality of its own. A mossy violet leaf with leather, sitting on top of wood. It doesn’t smell bad, by any means, just there isn’t all that much going on here.

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Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, I don’t find the EDP version of Legend to be much better, if at all than the original. It’s not a powerful projecting scent and is actually quite moderate. I don’t think that it really hits a higher peak with its strength versus the EDT, but may be steadier throughout the wear.

The longevity is better. It’s still not a beast, but I’ve gotten 6.5-8 hours of wear from Legend EDP during testing. Amazing? No, but better than the original, in terms of how long it will stick around on my skin.

The strength of the EDP is its versatility. Like the original, it’s a jack of all trades fragrance, which can be worn by all ages without issue.

Beyond that, it can venture into a variety of climates, pretty easily. I’d still stay away from the heat in the summer, but it’s fine in other conditions.

This can be worn casually, to work, to school, out on the town for an evening. Not going to be a nightclub kind of cologne, but it is a very versatile scent.

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Overall Impressions of Legend EDP

Overall, do I like Legend eau de parfum? Not particularly. I don’t hate the way it smells or anything, it’s just kind of boring. I still like the original more so than this one, and I’m not even a person who enjoyed that a lot. Montblanc can be pretty hit or miss, in my opinion.

It feels flat and uninspired. I like aspects of it, but Legend EDP doesn’t stand out in anyway. The violet leaf note, doesn’t add anything and it’s probably the worst aspect of the scent…despite it being a focus.

The leather is a nice touch, but it isn’t strong enough to give EDP a new direction. It’s like a violet leaf heavy version of the original, with some more greenish aromas, and it doesn’t manage to surpass it.

Should you buy it? Maybe if you’re a big fan of the original and want a longer lasting option. You might be able to get it for cheap, at some point, but I wouldn’t spend money on a full bottle.

Pure XS Night is the flanker fragrance to the original Pure XS, which I don’t think ever achieved all that much popularity, but was a very nice fragrance. I was interested in trying this one out, since I completely missed Night when it was released back in 2019. I bought a sample of this, as part of a large lot of other men’s colognes. How does Pure XS Night Smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

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What does Pure XS Night Smell Like?

Notes include: ginseng, caramel, ginger, cacao, vanilla, cinnamon, myrrh 

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My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Paco Rabanne describes it: To have it all. In excess. Devastatingly fascinating. Girls fall under his spell. Now’s the time to lighten up, play with fire. Lose control. An untamed Oriental, hot and fresh. Excess in its purest state.

Bam! That ginseng and ginger blend up top really hits hard. It actually reminds me of the ginger ale drink Canada Dry Bold, with that blast of ginger. Along with those two notes, there is also a bit of cinnamon floating around, so expect a warm/spicy opening act.

After 10 minutes of so Pure XS Night will start its turn toward becoming a sweeter cologne. Caramel and vanilla really start to come through, with a bit of raw cacao. I reminded of the caramel note in The Most Wanted, but I think that Azzaro fragrance is better than this.

For a while it will morph from a spicy/sweet blend, into something that is more of a sweet fragrance, as a whole. Freshness sits underneath that sweetness and it has a balsamic finish from the myrrh in the base.

I get mostly caramel and myrrh in the final phase, but the vanilla does blend with its counterpart a lot. 

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Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is loud, but not overwhelming. Well, maybe the first few minutes can be a bit much, but once the spice settles Night is a strong fragrance and not monstrous. You definitely gets your money’s worth, though.

The longevity is also very good. Somewhere in the 8-9 hour range, on the skin. Plus, a super long time on fabric, well into the double digit hour range.

The performance is much better than I got with the original Pure XS, which had a great smell, but pretty middling longevity and sillage.

Seasonally, autumn and winter only. This isn’t a warm weather fragrance. Beyond that, you won’t get much use out of this, aside from the nightlife. Maybe on a cold day, you could wear this casually, but it’s not one for business attire.

The sweetness and synthetic kind of vibe, make Pure XS Night one for the younger crowd. Teenagers through twenties should love this stuff. It’s attractive, bold, and a party/night club beast. Not the most versatile cologne, but it has its place.

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Overall Impressions of Pure XS Night

Overall, do I like Pure XS Night? I do. As far as deciding between it or the original Pure XS, I think that I still prefer how that one smells versus this newer version. However, this has much better performance and still is very attractive and worthwhile.

The opening ginger, ginseng, and cinnamon is indeed quite bold and may be off-putting for some people, but once it settles; the aroma develops very well.

I like the caramel/vanilla/cacao sweetness and the myrrh is always a nice touch and a bit part of the DNA of Pure XS. The biggest weakness (if you want to call it that), is the rather narrow use case for Night. 

You’re going to have to be in the market for a nightlife fragrance, something along the lines of Ultra Male or 212 VIP. But, within that space this is a cologne that is one to try out.