Cologne Reviews

Herod by Parfums De Marly

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So, I’ve got a ton of Parfums de Marly reviews that I need to write up, and post on the site. I received a good 10+ sample vials of this design house’s fragrances and have been testing them out. The first one, and the subject of this post, is Herod. Herod is perhaps their most popular cologne but does it actually live up to the lofty reputation?

Herod by PdM Overview

Notes include: tobacco leaf, musk, cinnamon, vanilla, vetiver, cedar, patchouli, pepper, incense, and labdanum 

Click here to try: Parfums de Marly Herod Men’s EDP Spray, 4.2 oz.

My Full Review

From the opening, Herod is an absolutely captivating fragrance, and one that is right in my wheelhouse. The tobacco note in this one is superb and reminds me of Pure Havane, in that respect.

Although, this Parfums de Marly scent has a slightly different type of tobacco and better smelling (and no honey note).

Herod really seems like an amalgamation of other scents that I’ve enjoyed. Other than Pure Havane, it has elements of Man in Black, Burberry London, as well as B Men.

Man in Black has an especially similar profile, with the spices and tobacco notes playing off of sweet ingredients. Are they exactly the same? No, but I’ve worn them both enough to recognize them as close cousins.

Herod is a warm fragrance, the vanilla note envelops you, and the cinnamon/pepper combination gives you that heated spice. It opens with those two notes being on prominent display.

Yet, it is never harsh. The smooth smokiness of the incense makes sure that the spice isn’t like a punch in the face and simply adds a relaxing texture to the aroma.

Tobacco, labdanum, and vanilla create a smooth and somewhat sweet trio which grows in strength during the wear. Another way the spices get brought under control and don’t become overwhelming.

In the dry down, it is a dark and resinous scent with a sweet heart. I really love it at this stage, as it lingers softly in the air, and I can catch whiffs of Herod throughout the day. This is where I think that the incense note shines through and earns its spot.

Ultimately, I get a mix of spicy/sweet tobacco, with smoky and resinous undertones. It’s warm, cozy, and very attractive.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection wise, it can be strong, but I think that it dries down into more of a moderate cologne. However, it is noticeable throughout the day. Also, the longevity is really great.

This is easily a 10+ hour wear and a scent who’s performance actually lives up to its price. Using my sample vial over the course of months, I never got a bad performance from Herod. It works extremely well with my skin and sticks around for as long as I would want.

Seasonally, Herod is one for the cold weather. I’ve been mostly testing this at night here in the summer, as it just doesn’t fit during the sweltering heat of the daytime. Update: I’ve worn this in the colder weather, or even the lighter days of autumn, and it fits perfectly.

It also has great versatility. It is a mature and refined type of fragrance that can fit well in the office but also has a level of sexiness that would work during a night out or date.

Overall Impressions of Herod by PdM

Overall, do I think Herod is worth it? Yes! This Parfums de Marly scent is a total winner in my book. I don’t personally need to buy a full bottle at the moment, due to the season, but it could definitely be a play for me during the autumn. Smooth, spicy, and tobacco laden.

Herod is one of the best PdM releases, in my opinion. Definitely a top 2 or 3 pick for me, from this designer. It smells great, has an interesting blend of familiar notes, and performs extraordinarily well for me.

L’Homme Absolu by Prada

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The Prada L’Homme line has a host of varieties available, working around the same basic theme. Each cologne has its own slightly different take to capture another side, of the iris based aroma. L’Homme Absolu, was released as a limited edition perfume for him, back in 2018. How does this one stack up? What does it smell like? How long does Absolu last? Is it worth a try? The following is my review after testing this Prada cologne out.

What does L’Homme Absolu Smell Like?

Notes include: iris, black pepper, cedar, bergamot, cardamom, mandarin orange, neroli, amber, labdanum, geranium

Click here to try: Prada L’Homme Absolu

My Full Review

The opening act of Absolu is a warmer and spicier affair, than the other editions in this series. I do get the ever-present iris note, but initially it gets overshadowed by black pepper and cardamom.

Those two ingredients are sitting in a coating of citrus. Mandarin and bergamot. The composition doesn’t feel juicy to my nose, but just a lighter zest, baked into a slightly burnt aroma.

What’s interesting, is that, after that initial wave of spice you do get a more citrus feeling thereafter. The floral notes emerge more, particularly neroli, and amp up the fruity quality. Add to that, an amber and resinous quality coming up from the base, and L’Homme Absolu becomes very enjoyable.

The further it moves along, the closer it starts to get to the other L’Homme colognes. In fact, the last bit is definitely a lot more of the iris note, than anything else.

Before that, I mostly get the iris, cardamom, neroli, bergamot, labdanum, amber, and some hint of cedar. That will all thin out until it is mostly just iris, along with some lingering neroli and amber.

Sillage, How Long Absolu Lasts, and Versatility

The sillage of Absolu is good, but it isn’t an absolute monster, in terms of its strength or ability to project. I’d say for the first hour or two, it is fairly strong, and moderate thereafter. I had no issues with the performance, it’s just not the strongest scent around.

The longevity seems to gravitate around 7 hours of wear. Sometimes, however, it will be closer to 5 hours. Though, the former is usually the standard.

Seasonally, this is actually great in the springtime. I sprayed some on before going on a long walk, in fairly temperate weather, and the scent really came alive. I kept catching lovely whiffs of the floral notes, amber, and cardamom.

Outside of that, I think that it would work well pretty much whenever outside of the hottest days of the year. Very good in colder to moderate climates.

L’Homme Absolu is also a very versatile fragrance. You can wear it pretty much anytime, in the right climate, without issue. It can be worn by younger or older men. Fits in at the office, casually, or during a night out. Has a formal appeal, without ever being uptight.

Overall Impressions of L’Homme Absolu

Do I like L’Homme Absolu? Yes, I do. I think that it’s a very attractive perfume and a great addition to the Prada line. Is it my favorite of the bunch? It’s one of the top picks, but I think that I still prefer L’Homme Intense.

The opening pepper and cardamom aroma, isn’t my favorite, but I do enjoy the floral and citrus notes more so. When they come in, along with the resinous amber, that’s when this stuff is really great.

The performance is solid, but not amazing. If you already have a bottle from the L’Homme line, you won’t really need this at all. It is somewhere between the other colognes, in terms of its smell, but still has a unique enough flair.

Update: Looks like this one got discontinued from the lineup.

A*Men Pure Havane Vs. Pure Malt Cologne Comparison

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Today’s installment of my ever-running series of cologne comparisons will be between two scents from the Angel Men line by Thierry Mugler, Pure Havane and Pure Malt. These are two popular and well respected fragrances, as A*Men flankers. In This post, I want to explore the openings of both, how each smells, how it performs, and which of these two colognes is a better buy overall?

Tale of the Tape: Pure Malt vs. Pure Havane

Pure Havane 

A*Men Pure Havane

Notes include: tobacco leaves, honeyed tobacco, patchouli, and bitter cocoa

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Eau de Toilette Spray, Angel Men Pure Havane, 3.4 Ounce

Read my original review: Pure Havane Review

Pure Malt 

angel men pure malt review

Notes include: bergamot, patchouli, vanilla, cedar, amber, fruits, coffee bean, musk

Click here to try: Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler Eau De Toilette Spray (Limited Edition) for Men, 3.40 Ounce

Read my original review: Pure Malt Cologne Review

Opening

The opening of both of these scents is really quite fantastic, in my opinion. This is going to be a tough comparison, as neither of these scents is bad or an under performer, and it will mostly come down to personal preference.

Pure Havane opens up as a brighter and sweeter fragrance than does Pure Malt. Havane is a warm and sensual tobacco note blended with sugar, honey, and a bit of vanilla.

Malt on the other hand gives you that darker and heavier malt aroma with smokey and fruity undertones. It’s a blend of the fruits, whiskey, vanilla, and some patchouli to roughen things up slightly. Later, it will get smoother and creamier with woody base notes, but up top its a delightful whiskey soaked scent.

Which is better? To be honest, I’m really digging the boozy scent of Pure Malt right now, and I’m going to give it a very slight nod. I really like the sugary tobacco of Havane, but Malt is above it. I’ve come back to wearing each, and each time, Malt seems to draw me in a bit more.

Edge: Pure Malt

Projection

I don’t really notice a difference in the projection strength between these two. They are both pretty powerful, in terms of sillage, but not obscenely so. Plenty strong starters, that moderate, as they dry down but never get weak until deep into the wear.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Both of these colognes are very solid performers, just not beast mode. However, Havane becomes more of a skin scent after 5-6 hours. I usually get an extra hour or two out of Pure Malt.

Update: with Pure Malt, it’s pretty much 7 hours of wear each time. That’s been consistent over the years.

Edge: Pure Malt

Versatility

These two are cold weather scents and work obviously well in casual situations. Havane, though, does have more of a use in romantic wear it seems. Neither is a ‘club’ scent but Pure Malt hasn’t gotten as warm of a reception from women in my experience as Havane does…it doesn’t effect me wearing it, but it’s something to consider.

Edge: Pure Havane

Overall Scent

To me, the real decision is between whether you prefer a tobacco note or a boozier type of scent. Havane is sweet in a sugary way, masculine, and rich. It really is a great cologne.

Pure Malt gets it sweetness from fruit notes, has a spicier/smoky profile, and is much more like a fine whiskey. It ends up with its malty aroma, vanilla, cedar, and tonka bean. Less boozy, towards the end, but very clean and woodsy.

I love both of these colognes and think that Mugler knocked it out of the park with them.

Pure Malt is just a bit better in terms of performance, and I really have enjoyed wearing, it over the past few days. Your results may vary, but I know which one I’m picking.

Update: A few years after this initial post, and I still will go with Pure Malt, most of the time. Pure Havane is a nice fragrance to put on, every so often, Malt has more depth and an interesting profile.

Winner: Pure Malt

Michael for Men by Michael Kors

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There are plenty of popular fragrances out there which are light and sweet in their aromas and downright unisex in their application, if not almost completely feminine. Michael for Men by Michael Kors is not one of these scents.

I recently received a sample vial of this stuff and have been testing it out over the past few days, in order to see if I like it and to get a sense of how it holds up throughout the day. In this post, I’m going to relay my findings to you and whether or not I think this cologne is worth a purchase.

What does Michael for Men by Michael Kors Smell Like?

FullSizeRender (43)

Notes include: Leather, woods, patchouli , tobacco, sandalwood, fruits, plum

Click Here to Try Michael Kors for Men

My Full Review

The opening notes of Michael for Men strike me as very warm and spicy, in the same way Opium Pour Homme does, only without the prominent vanilla note. Immediately, I thought that this was a cologne built for the colder months of the year.

However, the spicy notes don’t envelop you like a cloud, this cologne has a quite smooth and woodsy undercurrent to it, like a shot of good whiskey. I found it to be quite nice and masculine.

This Michael Kors fragrance also has a layer of sweetness to it provided by the dried fruit notes which includes, plum. To me, the fruits never develop into anything that strong but they do play a nice supporting role throughout its life cycle.

I will say, that, after about and hour or so, the spicy notes begin to take a back seat and the cologne becomes more refined with the scent of leather and woods emerging more to complement the tobacco.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

While Michael for Men starts out fairly strong, I would say that its projection is quite moderate. It doesn’t overpower, but I also got some pretty decent results with it too.

The sillage strength in the beginning, certainly isn’t a total bomb. Nonetheless, it will project itself to form a nice perimeter around you.

It also doesn’t last all day, like some colognes, but it doesn’t fade out after 30 minutes either. In terms, of its performance, I would say this cologne is moderate across the board.

Coming back to it, after a few years, it seems to stick around in the 5-7 hour range. Not spectacular, but quite useable.

Seasonally, keep it to autumn through early spring. It’s at its best in cooler temperatures, but it holds up decently in a more moderate setting. It is a versatile scent, good for an evening out, while being safe for the office.

Overall Impression of Michael for Men

Would I recommend this fragrance? Meh…I don’t hate it but I’m not exactly thrilled with it either, it’s just not really my style. I think this would be a solid option for some men during the late fall and winter months but it’s just not for me.

If you are the type that really likes the smooth, spicy, tobacco type of scents, this would be a good bet. It’s warm, inviting, and classy…I just personally have no real use for it.

I like the tobacco and the plum notes here, I think that they bolster the cologne, quite a bit. Trying this one again, a few years after my initial review, I can’t really say that my opinion has changed on this Michael Kors fragrance. Still good, but not great, with a solid balance all around.

Update: This one got discontinued. There is a Michael Kors Pour Homme fragrance, but it’s different from this older release.

Villain by Christian Audiger (Ed Hardy)

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I have some more samples on deck to review, but thought that I’d get the last men’s fragrance of the lot sorted out first. This entry is Villain by Christian Audiger, under the Ed Hardy banner. What does Villain smell like? What’s inside? How does it perform? Read below for my full take.

What does Villain Cologne Smell Like?

Notes include: cedar, amber, nutmeg, basil, bergamot, cardamom, lavender, sandalwood, musk

Click here to try: Ed Hardy Villain Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce

My Full Review

I was interesting in testing out Villain, as I had heard that it was supposedly a similar fragrance to The One by D&G. Now, The One, was a scent that I really enjoyed the smell of…it just lasted all of 10 minutes on my skin (the EDT version, the EDP is better). So, the thought of being able to get a cheaper ‘clone’ scent, was intriguing.

My initial impressions from the opening are that Villain is noticeably sweeter than is The One.

Add to that, the bergamot adds this citrus aroma that is much more pronounced than anything I get from the D&G product. In The One, it’s much more blended. It feels almost too sweet to my nose at the start, pretty synthetic in how it is put together.

After about 10-15 minutes, I think that Villain becomes much cleaner and fresh smelling. The amber note begins it warm take over and there is a pepper/cedar blend, which tones down the sweetness, and brings about a slight spice.

This is the smell that I get for the rest of the time that the fragrance lasts on my skin. So, it’s synthetic smelling cardamom with bergamot citrus, which transforms into amber with lighter spice. Pretty basic, not much development, like many inexpensive fragrances.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s strong at first but then fizzles out pretty quickly. It’s not a powerhouse by any means, but I think with the right body chemistry it could potentially be  loud.

On my skin, the longevity isn’t great. Better than The One EDT, but still I could only muster 3-4 solid hours of wear from it. If it could conjure up some more time, actually sticking around, Villain would be a pretty darn good cheapie. Not great, but definitely serviceable.

I’d chalk this up as a casual scent, with a chance to be a romantic wear cologne. I personally think there are better options, but if this is your price range, I wouldn’t be opposed to it. Villain does have an appealing enough aroma to be deemed ‘attractive’.

Overall Impressions of Villain

Overall, would I recommend Villain? Maybe for younger guys, who need something cheap. I don’t think it smells as good as The One or even close enough to be a direct clone of that fragrance, but it does last longer than the EDT (I’d buy the EDP before this, however).

For what it is, I do think it’s a decent buy in the 20-ish dollar range of scents.

It would never be my go to and I’m personally not going to wear it around after this, but I don’t hate it, and can see how it could find a place in a younger guy’s rotation. It’s fresh, warm, sweet/spicy, and smells good enough.

I should really enjoy Villain, but I don’t think the cardamom note, is all that amazing. The spiced and amber are nice, but again, not anything special. Really would only suggest buying at a cheap enough level.