Cologne Reviews

Uomo Born in Roma by Valentino

by

Uomo Born in Roma was a fragrance that I’ve overlooked since its release in 2019. I really didn’t know anything about the way it smelled going in and I liked the Uomo series from this brand. As such, I was intrigued to finally give it a try. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it even worth a try?

What does Uomo Born in Roma Smell Like?

Notes include: ginger, salt, mineral notes, sage, vetiver, violet leaf 

Click here to try: Valentino Uomo Born In Roma EDT 3.4 oz / 100 ml Men’s Spray 

My Full Review

Upon first spraying Born in Roma, I am amazed at how much this mimics the Invictus line of scents. Mainly, the original Invictus and Invictus Aqua. Roma has that same artificial candy-like sweetness.

The difference is, it is toned down in the Valentino and there aren’t any citrus notes, as in Invictus. Instead, this one gives me a very prominent mineral accord (like mineral oil’s smell) and violet leaf (which is also in Invictus Aqua).

Beyond that, some light ginger, salt, and some sage also come through. It’s not an aquatic, but all the notes do come together for that very similar Paco Rabanne-like fragrance. The mineral accord is the equivalent of the Invictus ambergris.

As it dries down further, Born in Roma begins to take on its own personality. Less of that candy-like sweetness and more of a soapy/fresh clean scent. The main notes that I get throughout are: violet leaf, mineral accord, vetiver, and wood. 

It is an interesting transformation, but it doesn’t really develop beyond that. Up top is the mass appeal of an Invictus sort of cologne. Then, the really fresh and outdoorsy clean of notes like violet leaf and vetiver.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Born in Roma opens up pretty strong. It’ll project probably 5-8 feet from the skin, at first, before moving in to the 3-4 foot range. Overall, above average but fairly moderate. 

The longevity seems to fall in the 7-8.5 hour range. That’s what I got the first time I wore it. The second time, I started to get a headache and nausea, a few minutes after I sprayed it on. Maybe this stuff was the trigger?

Either way, I scrubbed it off. But, I will say, based on how difficult it was to scrub off my skin the performance should be quite good. 

Mainly, this would be a spring or summer fragrance. It could venture into more moderate temperatures, but would feel out of place in the wintertime.

Born in Roma skews younger. It is more of a casual fragrance, nightlife, and the like. I wouldn’t wear this to the office or a formal occasion. More maturity than Invictus, but not that much more.

 

Overall Impressions of Born in Roma

Overall, do I like this scent? It’s not terrible, but it’s not one that I’d want to wear. It’s not an Invictus clone, but there is so much overlap with the aroma. I’m pretty sick of smelling these same sorts of colognes over and over again.

That being said, if it’s your type of fragrance, you might really enjoy this one. The dry down is much better in my opinion, than that opening act. I’m not a huge violet leaf fan, but I like the vetiver and woods in the base.

Violet leaf and mineral notes together, generally isn’t going to be something I want to spray on myself. There are some exceptions, and this one is pretty good, just not good enough.

The performance is solid and it will certainly have some appeal for the public. I’d probably try to find a bottle at a discount, because it’s overpriced at Valentino retail costs.

Update: Yeah, this one became pretty popular since its release and the Born in Roma line keeps on going. Other people seem to enjoy this much more than I ever have. This Valentino line doesn’t have much appeal for me, personally.

Born in Roma Coral Fantasy and Intense are two other options that I’ve reviewed, as of this update. I think that Intense is the best one that I’ve come across.

Polo Red EDP by Ralph Lauren

by

Polo Red is a formula that keeps getting used by Ralph Lauren. The initial EDT has sold so well, that every form of flanker seems to be getting put out by the designer. The latest is 2020’s Polo Red Eau de Parfum. I recently received a sample of this cologne and was really interested in trying it out. How does it smell? Perform? When can it be worn? Is it even worth a try?

What does Polo Red Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: red grapefruit, ginger, cranberry, lavender, sage, cedar, benzoin, oud, resin, musk

My Full Wear Review

Polo Red EDP is obviously going to have a lot of overlap with the Red EDT version (review). The start of EDP has the same cranberry note, but paired with grapefruit, instead of lemon. Also, there is a prominent ginger also hanging around.

It’s less sharp, less sweet, but much more tolerable than the original Polo Red. I liked that one a lot, upon its initial release. However, the lemon could get annoying.

A bit further along, sage comes in and takes a bit of shine from the cranberry note. Ginger and sage, is a nice combination. Red Eau de Parfum has a definite balance between sweet and spicy during the early stages of the wear.

Other notes that I pick up on before it dries down completely are the lavender and benzoin. That’s one way that EDP, really separates itself from the other fragrances in this line. Smoother, slightly medicinal from the benzoin, and then the woody blend in the base of the scent.

The final dry down to me, is just woods and lavender mostly. There is still the impression of sweetness from the cranberry, but it no longer smells like a distinct ingredient.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Red EDP isn’t a powerhouse. It will project itself just fine from the skin for the first few hours, before becoming more intimate. It’s not weak, on my skin, but it is pretty middle of the road. Maybe, only slightly better than the EDT.

It’s not really long lasting either, but quite passable. The times that I’ve worn it so far, I have gotten 6-7.5 hours each time. Not terrible, but it might be disappointing if you paid full price for a bottle.

Seasonally, any time other than summer. Probably better in the autumn and into winter, but it doesn’t have the same overwhelming sweetness as some of the others in the Polo Red line.

The smoothness of lavender and woods allows Red EDP to venture a bit further into the warmer months of spring.

I think that the other Red colognes skew toward a younger audience. Eau de Parfum does have a more mature vibe than them, but still feels younger, just well put together.

It could be worn casually, out on a date, to work, school and many other scenarios. It isn’t an ‘in your face’ fragrance, so, it probably isn’t going to offend anyone. I’d lean more casual to semi-formal wearing this one, but it’s not too bad elsewhere.

Overall Impressions of Polo Red Eau de Parfum

Do I like this Polo release? I do. I don’t like it as much as Extreme, but I think it might be the second best release. I like the EDT and Intense, but this feels more wearable than either.

Intense can be too much, with the sweetness and feels cloying, at times. Red EDT can be too sharp with the citrus. EDP is a good balance between them.

If you liked either of those Polo Red’s, you’ll probably enjoy this. If you didn’t like any Polo Red scent, you almost certainly won’t like EDP.

I like the cranberry and ginger mix, up top, as it’s a common ginger ale blend that already works as a beverage…so why not a scent? It has a nice use of sage and a woods/lavender dry down, which tones down the level of sweetness.

Performance is pretty good, but not outstanding. Probably the biggest weakness here. I don’t know that this is going to win any new converts to Polo Red, but EDP is a solid release from Polo.

Not a must have for me, I like wearing it well enough, but it doesn’t completely grab me. Again, I’d still rather wear Extreme,

Man in Black by Bvlgari

by

I’ve recently received 20+ fragrance samples for the new year, so expect a ton of reviews coming your way over the next few weeks or so. One such scent is a cologne from Bvlgari, Man in Black. I take it that this is a flanker scent to Bvlgari Man, which I enjoyed, but was far too weak in terms of longevity.

I got a hold of Man in Black hoping that it would be better than Man in that aspect but also actually live up to its name and be a darker kind of fragrance. So many colognes take on the ‘Black’ moniker and don’t really match up to the imagery…cough cough Black XS.

In this post, I want to give my full impressions of this Bvlgari offering and determine whether or not it is worth a buy.

What Does Man in Black Smell Like?

bvlgari man in black cologne

Notes include: rum, spices, leather, iris, tuberose, guaiac wood, tonka bean, tobacco

Click here to try: Bvlgari Man in Black Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Man in Black is a blend of spice and rum that carries a certain masculine intensity to it. I am also reminded a bit of Halston’s Man Amber cologne and Spicebomb, as both have a very similar profile of ingredients.

I’m not a big fan of either of those scents, but Man in Black has both of them beat, in my opinion. The spiciness doesn’t go too overboard and seems to be tempered by the leather and tobacco notes which is a smooth complement to the main notes.

During the opening, I can also detect the guaiac wood, which gives it that relation to Man Amber, and even though it is one of my least favorite notes, I actually think it works in this Bvlgari offering. It’s just enough and not totally in your face.

Mostly, Man in Black opens with a heavy hit of spices and rum, smoothed out by a sweet pipe tobacco. The sweetness that comes through, is one of my favorite aspects of this cologne, as it gives you just a little hint of something different.

Later on during the dry down, the spices subside somewhat and you get more of the leather and rum. Beyond that, tonka bean comes in, to give it an underlying creaminess and sweet addition to the light tobacco. Rum, leather, and the oud note are quite an amazing trio.

I like that Man in Black is actually a darker type of fragrance, it doesn’t cop out and add fruity notes to the profile. It’s boozy, spicy, and slightly smoky with a nice degree of warmth for the cooler weather.

The floral notes are present (iris, pretty much) but it isn’t dominant, just a slight reminder of a scent like, Dior Homme.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, Man in Black, isn’t all that powerful. It’s a decently heavy cologne but it doesn’t project like a beast. That’s kind of disappointing, but it does a good job at staying close to the skin.

It has good longevity, much better than Bvlgari Man, but again it hangs around as a skin kind of scent, so don’t expect to blow off the doors with this one. I tend to get in the six hour range, during the winter months.

When to wear it? Fall and winter is perfect for Man in Black. It would be completely out of place in the warmer parts of the year. It is also a more mature kind of scent, so, I’d recommend it for guys in their mid-twenties and up. It is masculine and sexy, but it could work more as a casual type of cologne.

I personally, have been wearing it as a nightlife fragrance with good results. I’ve gotten lots of positive comments from women, over the few years that I have been putting this on during the colder nights.

Man in Black works insanely well with my skin chemistry and just is perfect when it’s crisp outside.

Overall Impressions of Man in Black

Overall, is Man in Black worth it? Yes, this is a really well put together fragrance for guys who like darker/spicier kinds of scents. I really enjoy how it smells and it does have good longevity. I do wish that it was a bit bolder.

However, if you need something that is understated, Man in Black will do the job. I think Bvlgari did a great job on this one, when compared to some of their other offerings. Plus, it definitely lands in the range of affordable colognes for guys.

The more that I have worn this fragrance, the more I have come to love it. It can be limited to the times of the year, that I can actually throw it on.

However, those times are great, and I’m convinced this is one of the sexiest fragrances for men. Not every woman loves it, but the one’s who do, seem to go nuts for it. That’s always a plus, in addition to me, really liking to wear it.

CK One Shock Men’s Cologne Review

by

When I got around to reviewing CK One a few days back, I decided that I would start to tackle some of the other fragrances in the Calvin Klein line also. Today, I want to focus on CK One Shock for men, which right away tells you it’s going to be quite different from its unisex counterpart. I really do like this fragrance, although, I guess I’m not too fond of the bottle design (the green lettering reminds me of Ghostbusters) but whatever it’s what’s inside that counts, right? With that in mind, let us take a closer look at CK One Shock cologne.

Note: I have updated this review, some 4 years after the original, to expand upon this scent more. Check out the Best Colognes for Men by Calvin Klein here

What does CK One Shock Smell Like?

shock

Notes include: Clementine, Cucumber, Black Pepper, Black Basil, Tobacco And Musk Base Notes

Click here to try: Calvin Klein One Shock for Him Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

The first thing that one notices about CK One Shock is that it is a wholly masculine scent, especially when compared to the original CK One. With a name like Shock, you would also expect it to be extremely bold and of course, shocking.

However, that isn’t the case in my opinion, it is a good scent but there are far more energetic fragrances on the market.

CK One Shock is a very youthful fragrance to me and it’s woodsy and spicy masculinity is underlined but an inherent sweetness, like a warm vanilla scent. Also, while tobacco is a base note, it comes out in a very subtle way and isn’t overwhelming at all in its presentation.

It’s definitely the leader, but doesn’t hit quite as hard, as something like Burberry London or Versace Dreamer. The tobacco is sweet and cured, not the green, wild plant aroma.

The opening is actually quite bright with the clementine and cucumber note joining the tobacco. Shock will dry down into something much darker and warmer, but the initial spray, is energetic with some very nice citrus vibes.

There is even a hint of cherry in there, which I suppose goes with the cured tobacco note, but it is nice to catch a whiff of that in a men’s cologne.

As it dries down further, CK One Shock grows warmer, and there is a spiciness which emerges. Cardmom, pepper, and some other herbal ingredients. The spice is wrapped up in the embrace of the amber note, which grows in strength, and takes some of the real estate occupied by the dominant tobacco note.

At this point, it has sweet qualities still resonating from the clementine, with spices, and lots of tobacco and amber. It’s masculine and balanced.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Shock really packs a punch early on, which is awesome for a fragrance like this. Later on, it does settle down, and doesn’t have huge sillage but you will notice that you have it on.

Some definite things that CK One Shock has going for it, is the price and the longevity. This is one of those, that you will probably have to double spray, a few spots. However, that will give it a longevity boost into the 6-7 hour range.

For an everyday wearer, it is very affordable and unique enough for a man to stand out from the crowd. It is also one that will last long enough on your skin to go through its entire presentation of notes before it evaporates completely.

It is attractive enough to receive attention, but still plays it safe enough to be worn in an office, or classroom.

I would say that while it has to ability to be an everyday wear, it seems like it’d be at its best in the Fall and Winter months. So, while it is limited to the colder parts of the year, it enjoys great versatility within this time frame.

Overall Impressions of CK One Shock

Overall, CK One Shock can be a good choice for guys who are on a budget or have limited options. It is a moderate to slightly heavy scent that projects warmth, sweetness, and masculinity for hours on end.

It does have a certain uniqueness to it, but that uniqueness is still rather plain and unexciting. It’s a solid cologne at the price, not amazing, but I do have a higher opinion of it nowadays. It is worthwhile to pick up at discounted price.

Vert d’Encens by Tom Ford

by

Continuing on with my reviews of Tom Ford fragrances, I have today, an entry from 2016: Vert d’Encens. This one was released under the Private Blend umbrella and is one of the options with the Vert title.

In this post, I will share my experiences with this fragrance and review it on a number of metrics. How it smells, what the ingredients are, how long it lasts, when it should be worn, etc.

What does Vert d’Encens Smell Like?

Notes include: fir, pine resin, incense, heliotrope, wood

Click here to try: TOM FORD VERT D’ENCENS EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 1.7 oz / 50 ML SEALED 2016 NEW …

My Full Wear Review

Vert d’Encens opens up with a blend of fir and pine with a strongly resinous undertone. In the beginning, it can be fairly sharp and green, but there is a sweetness within the composition, throughout the wear. I actually like how the sweetness plays off of the forest notes. It’s quite warm and green.

A few minutes in, I really start to get more of the resin, but also the smokiness of the incense. I know at this point, that this Tom Ford scent, isn’t really going to be a standard issue pine wood cologne.

Then, there is the heliotrope, which I think adds to the sweetness and lends a very slight powdery quality to Vert d’Encens. There is a bit of a nutty aroma, lurking in here. I don’t know if there is a nut as an ingredient or if that’s just how the notes are coming together.

It dries down finally, into a slightly sweet and resinous woody fragrance, with some leftover smokiness from earlier on. It’s a pretty straightforward perfume, has some development, especially after the initial ‘green’ opening. Though, it doesn’t undergo major transformations thereafter, either.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection of this one is pretty average. No massive sillage here. It doesn’t even start off strong, on my skin, and settle down later. Nope, it hits that mid-tier level, and just sits there the rest of the way.

However, the longevity is very good here, and it will go for over 10 hours without a problem. It’s just a steady beat throughout.

Is this actually unisex, as listed? In my mind, very much so. It’s not super woody or earthy, but the sweetness never pulls things too far in the other direction.

Well balanced, for anyone to wear. It would be good in cold to mild temperatures, but doesn’t give me summertime vibes, in the slightest.

I like it as a casual or business wear. Vert d’Encens is pleasant enough to be around, but don’t expect a super sexy fragrance or a club banger. It’s just not that type of thing.

Overall Impressions

Overall, do I like Vert d’Encens by Tom Ford? I do like it, but I don’t love it. It is an interesting change of pace from what I usually wear, but never crosses into the spectacular. I am quite fond of resinous sorts of fragrances, so, on that level I do enjoy wearing it.

If you’re looking for a woodsy scent, with some sweetness/smokiness, then this would be a very good buy. If it doesn’t sound like your thing, it’ll be easy to pass up at Tom Ford prices.