Cologne Reviews

Man Amber by Halston

by

I’m winding down my reviews from the latest batch of fragrance samples I’ve received recently (although, I hope to buy some more scent to try out soon). One of the most interesting scents that I ordered seemed to be Man Amber by Halston.

I had no idea really what to expect from this cologne and reading the list of notes that were included grabbed my attention, since the looked different from many other scents. In this post, I want to give an overview on how it smells, performs, when it should be used, and if I think that Man Amber is worth a buy.

What does Halston Man Amber Smell Like?

halston man amber

Notes include: amber, geranium, bergamot, oud, musk, myrrh, oud, thyme

Click here to try: Halston Man Amber By Halston For Men Edt Spray 4.2 Oz & Eau De Toilette .25 Oz Mini

My Full Review

Update: I wrote this review many years ago and am updating it to fit the newer layout of the site. I’m pretty positive that this got discontinued a while ago.

Upon opening, it becomes very clear that Halston’s Man Amber is quite a unique scent. Just by taking a look at the notes, one can see that there is going to be something different about this cologne.

First, let me state that this fragrance has very limited use and isn’t going to appeal to everyone. The opening is a dry warmth with woody and smokey undertones. The myrrh note is quite distinct and prominent, even if it has ‘amber’ in its name.

I do enjoy scents that have amber as a note, so I was looking forward to seeing what this one was all about.

I’m not a big fan of oud scents. However, I think that it fits well in Man Amber and doesn’t distract me from the overall fragrance. To me, the wood notes give it a similar aroma to a cask, with the same smoke laden scent and added warmth and sweetness.

This is a fairly linear scent and most of what you get is myrrh, amber, and oud.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it does well, but Man Amber is on the softer side of colognes. So, a pretty moderate start, before it settles into something light.

It actually has good longevity and I got 6-8 hours out of it. That’s fairly good, but many of these types of fragrances will hit the 9+ hour range without question. This one is pretty moderate based on that metric.

To me, this is built for casual to semi formal wear in the winter. I wouldn’t wear it on a warm day and it doesn’t feel like much of a nightlife scent, in my opinion.

Overall Impressions of Man Amber

Is Halston’s Man Amber worth a buy? That depends. I think that it smells good, but it doesn’t totally fit my style or tastes. I can appreciate this fragrance for what it is, but it really doesn’t appeal to me.

However, I know that there are plenty of people who would probably love this cologne. If you’re a big fan of oud or amber, this might be a good bet for you to try out. Also, if you just want something outside the norm.

The myrrh is a wildcard, as to whether or not someone will enjoy this scent, as it is the main attraction here. Overall, it is a good performer at a really affordable price point.

Voyage by Nautica

by

There are some fragrances that are standouts and very popular no matter the price point. The inexpensive scents of the bunch can go on to be best sellers and be well regarded by those around a man while he wears these colognes.

One such scent, is an offering by Nautica called Voyage. This was released in 2006. In this review I want to take a closer look at the fragrance and see if Voyage is really all its cracked up to be.

As usual, I will asses what’s the ingredients, how they smell, how it performs, when it should be worn and whether or not it is actually worth a purchase.

What Does Nautica Voyage Smell Like?

Also see: Nautica Voyage N-83 Cologne Review and Voyage vs N-83 Cologne Comparison

rp_NAUTICA-VOYAGE-300x247.jpg

Notes include: apple, musk, cedar, lotus, amber, mimosa, and oak moss

Click here to try: Nautica Voyage on Amazon

My Full Nautica Voyage Review

The first thing that I notice about Voyage is how it gives off that vibe of late spring and summertime. It is an aquatic cologne. But one that has a different type of summery feel to it than the much more expensive, Creed Imperial or something of similar price range like Set Sail St. Barts.

It is less oceanic than other scents from Nautica or even those two colognes that I just mentioned, it is softer and has more of a woodsy influence to it. The other colognes tend to have, notes of sea water or salt, to give it that purely oceanic feel.

The amber lurks in the background to lend a layer of warmth. With Voyage, it is more like a crisp watery aroma, than a oceanic one.

Here’s how Nautica describes this scent:

For a man setting sail on his own heroic journey, capturing his adventurous spirit as he navigates his endeavors with precision and passion. 

It opens with an apple note, watery notes, mimosa, and some prominent musk. Voyage has that cold watery scent, that you typically associate with cucumber or dew. It’s a light non-oceanic aquatic aroma.

Underneath all of that, the scent has a green/floral undertone with wet moss (the dew smell) plus lotus/mimosa.

I like the apple note here, it isn’t like a candied apple aroma, that you get from a lot of other fragrances. Instead, it is much more naturalistic, and light.

Sometimes, the opening bit of time wearing this gets on my nerves, as I don’t really care for the lotus and mimosa influence upfront. However, Voyage definitely settles down into something more pleasant and summery. Just those floral notes, with the musk, can have to ‘green’ of a smell.

As the composition moves along, I pick up more of the cedar and oakmoss, to go along with that apple. It still retains that dew-iness, but the musk is less pronounced, and Voyage becomes cleaner and smoother.

The base gives it a drier profile, with an outdoorsy freshness, feeling less aquatic towards the end of the wear.

It is also during this time, that there does emerge a slight saltiness. To my nose, its really not that much at all, and there are plenty of other colognes that have a really salty profile. It’s just a pinch underneath the green. It is the amber note, doings its job, it just isn’t a very strong aspect of this composition.

However, where it does seem to line up with these other summertime aquatics is its use of a fruit note, in this case apple. The apple gives it a light and crisp fragrance that can only be described a refreshing.

Keep in mind, this isn’t a sexy night life scent, Nautica Voyage is a daytime wear all the way. It has a youthful sensibility and subtle charm to it that makes people come back for more. It’s actually pretty straightforward and linear, once you get about an hour into the wear.

Voyage Sillage and How Long Does it Last?

Projection wise, it’s pretty good. This isn’t a heavy cologne, nor should it be. However, this isn’t one which projects like a beast, so keep that in mind. It’s a moderate and fresh cologne that is bright and shines in the warm weather.

When I first apply it, it is fairly noticeable from 5 to 7 feet (I’ve tested this out on clothing and it is about the same), it then dries down to hang much closer to the skin.

Longevity wise I’d say it’s moderate, depending on the day or the person’s skin chemistry, it can vary in length of time…7 hours is what I find the max to be for my skin.

Some folks, seem to get better wear, but honestly 7 hours is pretty good for most purposes. Other times, it will be closer to five hours. It will just depend on the climate and your personal skin chemistry.

When Should It Be Worn?

Seasonally, I’d wear this in spring and summer. It holds up fine in the colder months, it just seems out of place. Even if I’ll wear Voyage when it’s hot out, I never really apply it in the winter, as there are so many better choices built for the cold.

This is a daytime casual cologne to be worn at school or work. Again, not a nightlife scent by any stretch, but a very good and affordable option for daily use.

This is an inexpensive option, so, it isn’t some crazy formal scent by any means. However, it doesn’t strike me as just being for teenagers, and can work well for older guys who just want a cheap casual scent.

Does Voyage Smell Good Overall?

Overall, is Voyage worth a purchase? Yes, it is a fantastic and inexpensive choice for men. It is better than many other fragrances which cost multiple times as much, smells great, and performs well during the warmer months of the year.

I would recommend giving it a try. The key here is the price versus what you get for the money.

To me, it’s not the greatest cologne in the world, but it’s just such a good value. It performs well, is pleasant to wear, and isn’t going to choke anyone out of a room.

It really fits a certain vibe and will continue to be a best seller for a long time. I like to throw it on before the gym or when I’m just hanging around, on a summer’s day. That’s when it fits. I’m not always in the mood for it, but I do still enjoy Nautica Voyage, every so often.

Météore by Louis Vuitton

by

Météore is a men’s fragrance released by Louis Vuitton in 2020. I am still working my way through the LV review write ups for the site and this is a cologne that I’ve worn multiple times, at this point. How does it smell? How long will it last? Is it worth a try?

What does Météore by Louis Vuitton Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, Java vetiver, neroli, bergamot, black pepper, pink pepper, Sichuan pepper

My Full Review

Before we get into my review of this fragrance, let’s see what Louis Vuitton has to say about it: The sizzle of spicy mandarin awakens boundless energy. A magnetic name that evokes power and light. A fragrance that arouses fascination in its wake, like the dazzlingly flamboyant clouds that so captivate humankind.

Météore kicks off with a burst of citrus set in a blue-ish frame and dotted with different types of pepper. Immediately, my closest fragrance comparison is Fan di Fendi Acqua, if you stripped it of the leather note and amped up the citrus.

That’s not to say that Météore smells just like that, it doesn’t, but that’s the closest thing that I can think of. The mandarin and bergamot are quite juicy and naturalistic, very reminiscent of those found in Afternoon Swim.

So, the citrus is dominant. Out of the pepper notes, the pink pepper is the one that comes through the most. Pink pepper and neroli are the next two notes that are sitting underneath the juicy citrus notes.

As it dries down, Météore is a juicy orange with a strong amber and vetiver note sitting at the base. It all comes together as quite sharp, especially with all of the remaining pepper notes wafting up from the heart of the fragrance. I’m less enthusiastic about this one, during the latter stages.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Météore does have some power. It’s not super strong and going to fill up a room, but I’d say that it is above average and will project itself much beyond just a standard skin scent.

It will also last 8-9 hours, on my skin. I haven’t hit double digits with the wear yet, but, it does get me a consistent workday of use. Very good, just not elite.

Seasonally, this one is a spring and summer wear totally. It has enough style to be more than a casual fragrance, but it doesn’t strike me as a nighttime or romantic wear. I could wear it just hanging out or even to work, if need be. Not a formal fragrance, but well put together.

Overall Impressions of Météore

Do I like this fragrance? I do, but I don’t love it. It’s solid all around, though, it isn’t anything super special. The vetiver and amber notes are the lowlights of Météore. I like the citrus top notes a lot, like the other Louis Vuitton entries that also feature them.

You do get good performance from Météore, but really at this price point, you should expect to get that. Is it worth a purchase for over $300 a bottle? To me, not really. I think that Louis Vuitton has put out better colognes than this.

It’s solid, but I also bought a bottle of Fan di Fendi Acqua for $20 4 years ago. I happen to like the added leather in that one, and so, see no reason to get a full bottle of Météore.

Nuit de Feu by Louis Vuitton

by

Nuit de Feu is one of the men’s fragrances that Louis Vuitton released back in 2020. The luxury brand has really churned out the perfume releases over the last few years and many of them have been quite good. Is Nuit de Feu, one of them? In this post, I’ll share my thoughts on how it smells, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a buy.

What does Nuit de Feu Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, white incense, black incense, musk, oud

My Full Review

Before we get into my thoughts about Nuit de Feu, let’s see how Louis Vuitton describes it: In the dark of night, scents of incense rise from the shadowy hollows in the dunes. Plunged into the icy night, the desert seems frozen under an endlessly star-studded sky. In the heart of this darkness, a camp fire is crackling, its dancing flames warm the travelers, its smoke curling upwards into the sky.

Nuit de Feu can hit pretty hard in the first few minutes. The incense and the oud are out in full force. Mainly, the smoky pair of incense notes.

However, that oud note does have that usual barnyard-like finish, that many people don’t like. I’m usually one of them, but here the oud settles down a lot and what you get from the rest of this Louis Vuitton fragrance is great.

It’s got a rich and naturalistic leather note, that comes across really great once you’re past that initial stage. By then, the incense have settled and the oud is in the background as a support player.

That’s what most of the wear is going to be, the leather as the highlight, with incense creating that night fire vibe. A very dry and dark fragrance with just a bit of musk coming through the base.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Nuit de Feu is not a powerhouse on my skin. It’s above average, call it the upper end of moderate, but it doesn’t blow the doors off. A few hours in, I’d say it’s pretty middle of the road.

The longevity is pretty good as well, but not elite. I’d say it will go from 6.5-8 hours on my skin. Definitely not amazing, at this price point, but it serves its purposes well enough.

I’d stick to the colder weather with Nuit de Feu. Autumn and winter is what it is made for and it’ll melt in the heat.

This is a fairly niche scent. Not anything crazy, but probably not something that is going to be considered main stream. It’s not a youthful fragrance, rather, one that should be worn by a man who’s established in his life and has a mature/stylish presence.

Semi-formal, work, nightlife and many other appropriate events in the winter months.

Overall Impressions of Nuit de Feu

Do I like this scent? I really do. It’s not my favorite thing ever, but the incense and leather notes are awesome here. Plus, the oud isn’t too much to handle.

The performance and sillage could be better, but it’s not terrible. This Vuitton cologne is going to appeal to those who love a good leather scent or something with a smokiness to it.

For a lot of you, it’s not going to be the one you want to buy. Again, Nuit de Feu has a somewhat narrow audience for whom it will actually appeal. If you want a more typical designer wear, I’d look elsewhere.

Spice & Wood by Creed

by

I received three sample vials of Creed fragrances from the Royal Exclusive line of scents. I was interested in trying these fragrances out to see if any of them really lived up to the expensive nature of being such an ‘exclusive’ bottle of perfume. Today’s contestant is Spice & Wood, which wins in the most obvious title category, but does it live up to it’s high profile?

In this post, I am going to share my experience wearing this Creed frag, how it smells, how it performs, and whether or not I think it is worth the money.

What does Spice & Wood Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, cedar, birch, musk, lemon, apple, pepper, oak moss

My Full Review

The opening of Spice & Wood is where I detect the citrus notes, particularly that familiar bergamot that is found in Aventus. It’s subtle, but it’s there. Then, of course, is the main attraction the wood and the spice.

It should be noted that this fragrance is pretty damn linear, what you expect to get from the title, is exactly what you get throughout. Cedar, birch, and pepper with an underlying softness from the other notes.

Spice & Wood is a rather fresh fragrance, which is nice, as I thought that it could be a heavy type of woodsy scent but it is actually well done. It’s got a dry warmth and the spice is tempered and never a really heavy pepper note.

The wood notes remind me of being in a cabin or ski lodge, very comfortable yet still outdoorsy.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection is okay on this one. It’s closer to a skin scent and is actually fairly soft, which is fine, but for the price point I was expecting something with a little bit more of a high profile.

It’s longevity wasn’t great for me either. I’ve routinely sprayed twice in the same spot on my arm during my trial runs with this and while it’s detectable it’s mostly gone within a few hours. Not impressed.

This is a casual scent best used for the fall/winter months. I don’t see it as a date night fragrance nor a club type of scent. Very straightforward. I guess it could also venture into more formal occasions.

The one thing that I would like to point out is the pricing point. As a part of the Royal Exclusives line, Spice & Wood is even more expensive than the regular Creed fragrances. In fact, the 2.5 oz bottle is currently priced at $545.

Of course, this limits the appeal of this scent to those who can afford it, but even if you can pony up the cash…do you really even want it?

 

 

Overall Impressions of Spice & Wood

Overall, I like this scent. It’s pleasant and smells good. Just at this price level, I really can’t recommend it. The performance is lackluster and unless you’re really a fan of spices and wood, the aroma is never Earth-shattering.

There are plenty of better options than Spice & Wood and you don’t have to spend over $500 in the process. Honestly, I don’t see the point of owning this. Perhaps, it’s just a status type symbol. Though, I don’t know who it would impress exactly.