Cologne Reviews

Instinct by David Beckham

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David Beckham is a world famous former footballer who is also well known for his personal style. Along with his H&M clothing partnership, Beckham also has his own line of affordable fragrances for men.

While these scents aren’t on the level of quality of something much more expensive, such as Creed, they do offer very pleasant colognes at an attractive pricing point.

In this post, I want to take a closer look at Instinct from the David Beckham collection of fragrances, and see if this one is worth a purchase.

What does Instinct by David Beckham Smell Like?

instinct

Notes include: Amber, mandarin, orange, anise, bergamot, cardamom, patchouli, vetiver

Click here to try: David Beckham Instinct EDT Spray For Men, 2.5 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Instinct for me really highlights the citrus notes of this fragrance. I’m not always a fan of orange in colognes, particularly the bitter orange note in Terre D’Hermes.

However, in Instinct, I rather like its paring with the lemony bergamot and the underlying earthy notes which develop quite nicely later on.

This scent does have a nice warm slightly spicy air to it that vaguely reminds me of L’Homme Libre (it must be the star anise and perhaps the patchouli/cardamom that gives off that vibe).

The opening citrus is very bright and clean, with a somewhat soapy cleanliness, thanks to the vetiver note, which will get stronger as it moves along. Also, this will start to get quite dry over time.

That’s not to say that the colognes smell alike, they don’t, just a similarity that I picked up on…Instinct is much less spice and more woodsy. Though, the anise and other spices, give it a slight kick.

The opening isn’t powerful, nor is the dry down. It is subtle and has a freshly washed, masculine aroma. The citrus notes that take precedent in the start, calm down and give way to the vetiver and amber notes.

I really enjoy the richness of this scent and how it smells so clean and refreshing while keeping it’s dry woodsy/spicy profile intact. The latter half of the wear, is still sweet with a great freshness of anise, and some light touches of cardamom.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Instinct is not a heavy fragrance nor one in which someone will be able to smell you across the room. I would put it on the lower end of moderate. It definitely becomes a ‘skin scent’ so to speak and one in which requires someone to get closer to you.

Longevity wise, Instinct does not impress me. That’s really the only major flaw in this cologne. I might get 3-4 hours of solid performance out of it before it dissipates almost completely.

I get that it’s available for less than $15, but this would be an amazing pickup if you could get a few more hours of wear from it.

Seasonally, this could pretty much work year round. It’s best in more mild to moderate temperatures, not really fantastic in the high heat and humidity.

It is also very versatile. It’s works well for daily wear at work or for class. Its subtlety is a selling point, as you could wear it casually, or even out for an evening. The aroma doesn’t feel too youthful or anything like that. Instinct is appropriate for any age range.

Overall Impression of Instinct

Overall, I really like this scent, especially at the price. I think that a guy could definitely add this to his collection and enjoy its use. Yes, it does have issues with longevity but if you can keep a bottle around for reapplication, I don’t see why you couldn’t have use for it.

There are definitely better options out there, but Instinct is a very good smelling fragrance in my opinion. The price is super cheap and versus other options in this range, Instinct smells better than almost anything.

This is still a useful scent, but if it had more staying power, it’d be an absolute classic cheapie. It’s worth a try, seeing as it costs so little.

Interlude Man by Amouage

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I’m still working my way through all of my Amouage samples. I have to say that I find most of them, not to be my style at all though, I respect the craftsmanship that goes into making each of them.

Today’s entry, is not exception for not being aligned with my tastes, but being a complete workhorse in terms of performance…Interlude Man. Please continue below for my full take, how it smells, performs, etc.

What does Interlude by Amouage Smell Like?

Notes include: incense, myrrh, amber, oud, leather, oregano, bergamot, and more

Click here to try: Amouage Interlude Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

On the back of my sample sprayer’s packaging it says that Interlude, “Inspired by chaos and disorder”. I guess they’ve achieved that, because I don’t always know what exactly to make of this fragrance.

From the start, it is heavy and bold. It has a very dry, smoky, and incense laden aroma but mixed with myrrh and oud. While this scent has it’s own thing going on, I am reminded of Man Amber and Sahara Noir by Tom Ford, which is a ladies’ scent.

I didn’t love either one of those fragrances and so I can tell that Interlude Man probably isn’t my cup of tea, either.

It’s warm, spicy, smokey, and amber with hints of freshness. It definitely has an herbal aspect to it (the oregano?) and the lingering scent of oud (which I’m usually not much a fan of).

As it dries down, Interlude reveals a sweeter side, but I found it to be almost sickly. It was to the point that I really didn’t want to smell the stuff anymore.

I’ve come across a few scents like this one: that I can recognize that it was well made, that many people will like it, but I cannot personally stand wearing it.

It does nothing for me and feels like another oriental fragrance that would need to be tempered by something else for me to enjoy.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection and longevity wise, Interlude Man is an absolute beast. It’s really heavy and loud and lasts seemingly forever. Amouage didn’t cut any corners when formulating this one.

Interlude Man is a fragrance that can fill a room, with not too many sprays, so go easy on the trigger.

Say what you want about the actual smell of these fragrances, the performance is always top notch from this brand. Double digit hours of wear, without weakening all that much.

I guess it would be more of a winter scent than anything else, as I can’t imagine wearing something like this cologne in the summer heat.

Add to that, it comes across as a semi-formal to fully dressed up fragrance and geared more evening wear. I guess you could potentially wear this in the office, if you went super light with it. Not a casual or a particularly easy wear for many folks.

Overall Impressions of Interlude

Overall, is Interlude worth it? It’s a love or hate type of scent and I fall on the hate side. It’s not for me and I couldn’t wait to get it off my skin (but I wore it all day for purposes of this review). Some people apparently love this kind of aroma.

Maybe you’d fall into that camp, if you like bold and exotic scents. For the average guy out there? I doubt that this would find a place in your rotation. Besides the heavy price, the scent itself is highly niche.

It’s hard to exactly rate this kind of fragrance, as the style just doesn’t gel with me, at all. However, the quality of ingredients and performance is all there for those that are fans.

Bvlgari Man by Bvlgari

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Since I’m doing a whole slew of new cologne reviews on the site , I figured I’d take some time and do one on a Bvlgari fragrance. In this post, I’m going to be taking a closer look at Bvlgari Man. It’s a woodsy/green type of fragrance which I tend to either love or hate.

What are some of the notes in Bvlgari Man? How does it smell? How does it perform? Is it worth a buy? Please read on for my full review of this cologne.

What does Bvlgari Man Smell Like?

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Notes include: Lotus, bergamot, vetiver, honey, violet, woods, musk

Try Blvgari Man: Bvlgari Man Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 5 Ounce

My Full Review

With a name like Man, you expect this Bvlgari scent to be something masculine and confident, and on that accord this cologne delivers. The opening is very refined and fresh.

I’m not completely blown away by it but it certainly smells very good as well as being quite crisp and clean.

Update: Coming back to this scent years later, I really do enjoy the opening act more so, than I had.

There is a light floral mix of lotus and violet leaf, with just a touch of pear and citrus. Even in the beginning, I am picking up more vetiver and wood. It is woody, warm, with thickness provided by the honey. 

Man does have a slight smokiness to it maybe from the vetiver? But then there is also a warm, woodsy, sweetness to it provided by the honey and musk. The impression it leaves is of a somewhat sweet grassy floral, with lots of wood.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

However, like some of my other favorites, this one does have longevity and projection issues. It isn’t a big time in your face scent to begin with but it could’ve at least made up for it with some longevity.

It doesn’t last nearly as long as I’d like, and it falls quickly into a skin scent. If you spray more than you usually would, it can be serviceable. I can only seem to must 3-4 hours total, though. It doesn’t hit the same level as Man in Black or other offerings. 

What this scent does right is provide an appealing if sort of generic aroma which would probably work very well in an office type environment.

I would say late 20s through 30s would be best served by wearing this. I want to say, I truly do enjoy this cologne, when it settles in Man becomes so damn good.

So, casual or business wear for this. It is attractive enough to pull complements, though, I wouldn’t really categorize it as a ‘sexy’ cologne. Very attractive, with its own style. 

Overall Impression of Bvlgari Man

Overall, would I rate this a buy? It’s fantastic for what it is, it just doesn’t last. It’s really a shame because I could envision me wearing this as a casual fragrance on a regular basis if it just projected itself better and lasted longer.

I might have suggested going with Bvlgari Man Extreme, but that seems to be a completely different fragrance. The more time that I’ve spent wearing Bvlgari Man, the greater appreciation that I have for this scent.

It’s unique and honestly has moments of utter greatness. The performance just sucks. 

I have a mini bottle, that I still throw on from time to time. Usually, it’s just before heading to the store or around my house. Really, because it’ll fade in most scenarios, before any real use is gotten out it. 

Update: This has been long since discontinued.

Man Ice by Jimmy Choo

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I’ve been working my way through all of the offerings from Jimmy Choo’s fragrance line over the past six months. I’m getting pretty close to being done with the current men’s releases, but knew that I still had the topic of today’s review, to go.

Jimmy Choo Man Ice, is another flanker using the Man moniker. It was released in 2017. How does it smell? What’s the performance like? Is it even worth a try?

What does Jimmy Choo Man Ice Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, cedar, vetiver, lime, grapefruit, mandarin, musk

Click here to try: JIMMY CHOO Man Ice Eau De Toilette, Citrus Aromatic Woody, 3.3 Fl Oz 

My Full Review

Before we get into my personal review of Man Ice, let’s see what Jimmy Choo says about it: Man Ice is a dangerously seductive and sophisticated scent designed for the contemporary man. Created with lime top notes and an underlying musky base, the fragrance evokes a flirtatious sweetness with a rich and woody depth. Finished in a sophisticated design, Man Ice is the ultimate day to night

Jimmy Choo Man Ice starts off with a giant burst of citrus. I know, they say lime, but I pick up a lot of lemon. I’d say it’s probably 60% lemon, to my nose, over lime or mandarin. Nevertheless, this fragrance is a cold lemonade-like citrus drink in fragrance form.

So, pretty much Dior Homme Cologne? Well, yes, it does start off as a near identical fragrance to that one. They do diverge at some point, but the start is very similar.

That’s a good thing, because I do enjoy how that Dior fragrance smells. It’s longevity is a problem, but it’s a fun summer cologne.

Again, there is a divergence, sometime during the first hour. Man Ice, becomes a bit less of the lemonade sort of smell, and takes on a woodier complexion.

There is a very slight crisp apple note in there. Weak, but it’s there. Mostly, it is cedar, vetiver, and musk. Vetiver comes in strong, during the middle of the wear. Then, musk and cedar round out the base.

What I’m left with is a frozen lemony scent, with hints of musk, and a woodsy base. That’s pretty much it. Not very complicated.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s not too powerful. You’ll get good sillage for the first 30 minutes or so. After that, it’s a pretty light to moderate cologne. The citrus notes, do project well right after you spray it on. The lemon/lime hit and it’ll definitely be noticeable.

With the longevity, it seems to hang around in the 4-6 hour range, depending on the day. It’s winter now, technically, but it’s quite warm outside. If I’m in and out of the house, it’ll usually be closer to 4 hours. If I’m inside, it’s a six hour wear.

Seasonally, this is a summertime cologne. I had to test it out here in winter, but save this for the warmest days of the year, that’s when it’ll fit best. A cold citrus drink with woody undertones? Summer.

It can be worn to the office, casually, semi-formally. Stick to the daytime, pretty much. I guess it could be a night wear, on certain occasions, but generally not.

It’s attractive and pleasant. Less sexy, but people will enjoy that familiar citrus aroma. I enjoy smelling it on my skin, just like I did with Dior Cologne.

Overall Impression of Jimmy Choo Man Ice

Overall, do I like Jimmy Choo Man Ice? I do. It’s a pretty targeted fragrance. It has it’s place and role, does it well, and isn’t meant to be all-encompassing.

If you want a nice change of pace in the summer months or live in a tropical setting, you could do a lot worse than this. Citrus, ice, musk, and dry woods. Simple yet effective.

I’m not crazy about it, but for the right price, I could see me wearing this more. I am a fan of lime notes, and I don’t get many opportunities to wear them, but Man Ice will be one of them.

Like other citrus focused fragrances, it’s not going to be a beast performer. Though, its a blast while it sticks around.

It is also usually much cheaper than Dior Cologne of Allure Homme Sport Cologne, both of which have a lot of overlap with this one.

360 Red by Perry Ellis

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It is important to note that not all worthwhile fragrances are super expensive or even moderately priced. Sure, the cheaper scents tend to use more synthetic ingredients and are generally less complex and more linear but that doesn’t preclude some from smelling quite good.

Today, I want to review one such cologne, 360 Red by Perry Ellis. In this post, I want to give my impressions of it and see just what makes it a potential buy. Also see: 360 Red vs Nautica Voyage

What does 360 Red by Perry Ellis Smell Like?

360

Notes include: bergamot, cinnamon, lime, orange, lavender, spices

Click here to try: 360° Red by Perry Ellis for Men, 6.8 Ounce

My Full Review

360 Red gets a lot of attention for being in the opinion of some, an Acqua Di Gio clone.  I definitely notice the similarities between these two scents but I think 360 Red’s citrus notes are stronger and more defined than they are in Acqua Di Gio. It’s only right that they smell similar judging by the overlapping of some of each cologne’s notes.

However, I don’t want to get bogged down in comparison with an Armani fragrance when 360 Red presents an interesting fragrance at a fraction of the cost.

The opening is a pretty intense burst of mostly lemon and lime notes which exudes freshness right from the start. Now, it can be kind of overpowering at first but 360 Red settles down nicely and develops much more character as it wears on.

This one actually has a whole host of citrus based notes, from lime to orange, and bergamot. It’s going to be very citrus heavy throughout, with a spicy edge to it.

With the citrus in the opening, are an accord of spice, led by cinnamon. Cinnamon and some clove, are mainly what you’re going to pick up, on the skin. There is supposedly nutmeg in there too, but I can’t pick it out, if that’s the case. It is indeed quite close to AdG, but without the oceanic influences.

As it settles down, the spicier notes begin to flourish more. Again, this isn’t an overwhelming spice, rather, something that is smooth (sort of peppery) and envelops a definite warmth. This is definitely an attractive fragrance and one with just a hint of cinnamon to give a unique distinction.

Much later in the wear, I get touches of lavender, and a woodsy base. It’s fresh and pretty dry later on, though, it doesn’t dominate the composition. 360 Red is still all about the citrus and spice notes. However, it is a nice change of pace, to develop things further.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Longevity wise, this one is a performer. Seriously, for the price, it’s pretty much all of a full work day scent in most circumstances. Projection is moderate to very good. It’s not a heavy or overwhelming scent but you’ll notice it on you for sure.

Could you overspray this? Sure, but normal application isn’t going to choke out a room. I would expect anywhere from 6-9 hours of wear, depending on the climate, and circumstances of when you’re wearing it.

Versatility wise, this is going to lean more towards younger men. It’s not a complete teenage scent, but most older guys can opt for something better. 360 Red operates best in the warmer months, definitely a good daily wear candidate for late spring and summer.

It has a certain level of attractiveness. It smells good, but not necessarily sexy. A younger man, could wear this on an evening out no problem, though.

Casual, school, office, and potentially evening for the right occasion. So, you do get a wide berth of uses, with Red. That’s great news for something, at this price point, where colognes are usually extremely limited in use and performance.

Overall Impression of 360 Red

Do I think 360 Red is worth a purchase? Yes, it is a great value pick and if you like Acqua Di Gio or similar scents, you might as well save some money and get this and a bottle of something else for the same price.

Honestly, the original AdG probably isn’t even worth buying nowadays (at retail prices, discounted, sure), since we have so many other options. This or Just Me for Men, can replace the Armani scent. Also, Acqua di Gio Profumo, is a better fragrance overall.

With 360 Red, I really dig the citrus strength of the opening, and the cinnamon note. It’s a bit sweet, spicy, and you have enough woody notes to keep it interesting. 360 Red has freshness and a drier base, than does Acqua di Gio, in lieu of sea notes.

All in all, this Perry Ellis cologne is a great pick up, for guys who want something cheap with a mass appeal.