Cologne Reviews

Nuit de Feu by Louis Vuitton

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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

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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.

Habdan by Parfums De Marly

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I still have a handful of Parfums de Marly colognes to post reviews of. I’m working my way through each of them and today, I’d like to present my thoughts on Habdan. How does this fragrance smell? Perform? When should it be worn? Is it even worth trying? Continue below for my full take after wearing this scent around.

What does Habdan Smell Like?

Notes include: saffron, amber, frankincense, caramel, apple, myrhh, rose

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

The opening of Habdan hits with a bunch of saffron, some apple, and frankincense. It’s a lovely blend of sweet/spicy/smoky and honestly grabs my attention from the get go. Now, I’ve seen this cologne compared to Bvlgari Man in Black, and I do see the similarities.

Habdan, does have a leather-like aroma at times, but no leather note, and also a smoky spice. However, the two scents are ultimately different, as the Bvlgari has an infusion of rum and none of the saffron. Although, I also enjoy wearing Man in Black quite a lot.

Back to Habdan, I love the crisp apple note and how it sits among the warmth of the incense aroma. This cologne seems to have so many layers to it, yet, is constructed perfectly. It could’ve easily become a jumbled mess but Habdan sort of systematically unveils an intriguing fragrance to the wearer.

As it dries down, a caramel smoothness emerges over top of the apple note, but it smells less like a candied apple and more like a baked good. Of course, this is still closer to a background player than the main event of saffron, myrrh, and frankincense.

I have found that the latter two notes, always seem to be put into some loud and over the top kind of colognes, but I absolutely love them in Habdan.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Habdan’s sillage is pretty average. It isn’t weak but it’s not an overpowering beast of a scent, either. That’s okay, because it honestly, doesn’t need to be that way.

The longevity is also solid, I get about 7-8 hours of wear out of this Parfums de Marly cologne, not the best but very respectable.

Weather wise, Habdan is best in cold to moderate temperatures. This one will shine on nights in the fall/winter months. It also has good versatility. It’s mature and sexy enough to be worn on dates, but classy enough to be worn at work.

That’s one of the reasons, it somewhat subdued nature works to its advantage. You won’t choke out a room with a normal amount of sprays applied.

Overall Impressions of Habdan

Overall, do I like Habdan? I really do. This is such a well put together and interesting scent to me. I definitely think that it is one of the best Parfums de Marly colognes, and something that I enjoyed wearing throughout the day.

I don’t think it will have a total universal appeal for all guys, but it isn’t a super niche fragrance, either. Habdan is super rich, smooth, complex, with a smoky sweetness. It develops amazingly throughout and an aroma that isn’t completely comparable to anything else that I’ve come across.

Nisean by Parfums De Marly

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After this review of Nisean, I think that I have only two more write ups to do of my Parfums de Marly sample collection. This is a sample that I had to spend some more time with in order to really appreciate and see how the cologne developed before jotting down my thoughts about Nisean below. As usual, I am going to cover how it smells, performs, and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Nisean by PdM Smell Like?

Notes include: patchouli, incense, cedar, rose, saffron, labdanum, lime, grapefruit, and more

Click here to try: PARFUMS DE MARLY NISEAN 125ML EDP SPRAY

My Full Review

Nisean is not one of the more well known or appreciated fragrances from Parfums de Marly. I don’t know why, maybe it’s because it’s name looks like a Japanese car manufacturer.

Anyhow, here is how the cologne sample card describes it: “A beautiful dark wood, hyper textured (majestic patchouli) illuminated by a distinguishable incense note, having the effect of a sacred nectar warming both the heart and the body.”

Sure, ok. I definitely pick up on the dark wood, which I’m guessing is the cedar. Nisean is dry and warm with the amber and the familiar smokiness of the incense note. The saffron is there but it isn’t as intense to my nose, as it was in Godolphin (which I prefer to Nisean).

However, I think that the saffron still plays very nicely off of the patchouli.

During the dry down, there is an element of sweetness (not candy-like) that emerges from within Nisean. Like a dried fruit sweetness, from the grapefruit/lime citrus combination, and a floral sweetness provided by rose.

It stays very warm and woody but there is that citric quality that just feels like it is soaking into the cedar wood. From there, I get a bit of a pepper spice and a warm/sticky amber note.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Nisean is toward the upper moderate end of the spectrum. Not a monster, but it is solid, and you’ll know that it is there. On the other hand, the longevity is awesome.

Like almost every other Parfums de Marly cologne, this one is hitting the double digit hour mark, without trouble. I tend to lose track of these workhorses, but I’d say somewhere in the 12-13 hour range, on my skin.

Wear wise, I’d put this in the fall and winter seasonal category. It’s a mature scent, not ‘old man’, but a guy in his late 20s and up who has his stuff together.

Nisean can be worn semi-casual to dressed up and is best in that space or as an office scent. It’s not something for the night club scene by any stretch.

Overall Impressions of Nisean

Overall, do I like Nisean? Yes, I like it. I feel like it’s probably the sixth or seventh best of this company’s line of colognes. That’s saying something about the depth of options here, as this is by no means an average fragrance.

It’s a very dry woody fragrance with patchouli, incense, and amber warmth as its base.

From there, you’ll get some bit players such as the citrus notes chipping in. It smells good but it isn’t amazing, in my opinion. Though, it is a great performer. It’s a very solid fragrance and could earn a spot in a man’s rotation, but it wouldn’t be my number one option.

Guess Suede by Guess

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Today’s review is of 2007’s release Guess Suede by as luck would have it, Guess. I wanted to see how the suede note worked in this fragrance, as I think it is a nice change of pace from the usual leather note that is so prevalent in men’s colognes.

As usual, I’m going to cover what’s in this cologne, how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if it’s even worth considering a purchase of a full bottle.

What does Guess Suede Smell Like?

Notes include: suede, bergamot, pineapple, vetiver, mahogany, sandalwood, nutmeg, lavender 

Click here to try: Guess Suede By Guess For Men Edt Spray 2.5 Oz

My Full Review

My initial impression of Guess Suede was a positive one. The opening of course, gives you that smooth and familiar suede note that is paired with a slightly spicy nutmeg and a sweet citrus which plays the background quite well.

After a few minutes, the wood notes really begin to take form, and the aroma becomes much fuller in my nose.

The thing of it is, Guess Suede strikes me mostly as a one note fragrance. Obviously, with a name like Suede, that note is going to dominate the composition but the supporting cast of wood and citrus stays pretty much the same after the initial few minutes.

I wish that I could write more about how it develops, but it doesn’t seem to do so at all. Suede stays warm and smooth with a slightly sweet spice to it.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Guess Suede starts out with a pretty solid kick before it starts to tone down, into something that is essentially moderate but closer to the weak end of the spectrum. Longevity, is not very good at all.

Within 2-3 hours, it’s completely gone from my skin. This was my problem with Guess Seductive Homme Blue, it also smells good but doesn’t last. This brand seems to come out with some pretty good smelling fragrance but the longevity on most of them stinks.

I suppose I’d classify this as a casual cologne that could be worn mostly during the Fall to Spring months…however, since it doesn’t last very long, it’s hard to say exactly.

You could wear it around town, maybe out for an evening, if it happens to last more than a couple of hours on your skin.

Overall Impressions of Guess Suede

Overall, is Guess Suede a buy? Nope. I actually really liked how it smelled, though, less so the second time I wore it. The problem of course is, what’s really the point of getting a full bottle, if it doesn’t last?

Guess Seductive Homme is a legit option from this house, that actually has passable longevity, and is at a good price point. Unless you really love suede and can reapply every few hours, I’d turn this one down.

It was a cheap fragrance, but even that fact couldn’t save this cologne for me.

Update: I’m updating this review from 4-5 years ago, here in 2023. Suede is no longer produced and pretty much came and went without much fanfare.