Cologne Reviews

Vert d’Encens by Tom Ford

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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.

Nautica Blue by Nautica

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Here in my latest installment of fragrance reviews, I’m going to take a closer look at Nautica Blue. This scent is in the lower end in terms of price for men’s colognes. It was released in 2005 by Nautica and has been one of the best selling ‘cheapies’ on the market since.

There can be some good deals and great finds at really affordable  prices. Is Blue actually one of them? What are the notes? What does it smell like? How long does it last? Read below for my take. Also see: Nautica Voyage N-83 Review and Nautica Blue vs. Nautica Voyage Comparison

What does Nautica Blue Smell Like?

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Notes include: Musk, cedar, bergamot, sandalwood, peach, pineapple, water lily, jasmine

Click here to try: Nautica Blue Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 fluid ounce

My Full Wear Review

Nautica Blue contains fruit notes such as bergamot, peach, and pineapple. However, I wouldn’t classify it as a fruity fragrance at all. It’s more along the lines of an aquatic/woody scent and the fruit notes add a layer of freshness to it.

While they don’t smell the same at all, I am reminded of Polo Sport when I try out Nautica Blue, as they share the cedar, musk, sandalwood, and bergamot notes. It’s that same clean type of marine aroma you would get from Polo Sport but the Polo fragrance is way better, in my opinion.

The opening of Nautica Blue can actually be quite harsh, with the newest formulations on the market, the start of this scent has a sharp detergent-like smell. This really wasn’t as prominent with older bottles or maybe my memory of those is clouded.

Either way, the bergamot and pineapple, are super sharp at the top. Then, the cedar and heavier musk come in and give it that laundry sort of smell.

As it dries down, the sharpness is muted somewhat by the woody notes like the cedar and sandalwood. The musk also falls back and the floral notes become much more prominent for the rest of the wear.

Water lily and jasmine are the flowery ingredients, which go together with the pineapple and citrus bergamot, as the main attractions once this has had time to settle on the skin.

To describe this cologne I would use the words fresh, crisp, clean, soapy, aquatic. It’s a very safe and straightforward fragrance that won’t surprise you with anything unique but it won’t overwhelm you either.

I do find the cologne somewhat attractive, it is pretty basic however, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing for the price you’d pay for a bottle.

I really don’t like the opening, in these newer bottles, it’s way too sharp for my nose but it does quiet down a lot.

In some ways, this is a victim of some re-formulation. It’s been around for decades now, so, it was bound to happen. But, I do think that the quality has slipped, on the newer bottles.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

It’s projection is fairly moderate and definitely seems to have a short half life. So, it’ll go from a moderate opening to a lighter dry down.  Nautica Blue is usually going to last anywhere between 2-5 hours, depending on the circumstances in which you wear it.

Not a great longevity by any means but at this price point, one could afford to respray it as needed. At this roughly $15-25 price range, you’re not going to get too many scents that both smell great and last for a long time, it just what it is.

However, this isn’t terrible in terms of performance.

Seasonally, this works best in the warmer months of the year. It’s a nice refresher on summer days, as it can take the heat, and actually still smell like its supposed to. It holds up for the rest of the year, also, it just is at its best when the weather is hot.

I’d call this a casual fragrance. It’s safe and not overwhelming. Nautica Blue is a solid starter cologne for the younger guys out there. So, high school through college. Or just someone who needs an inexpensive and clean scent to spray on certain days.

That sharply fresh and soapy sort of scent, isn’t one that screams out, ‘romantic wear’ or nightlife fragrance. It’s a basic freshie, that can be had for super cheap.

Overall Impressions of Nautica Blue

Overall, I’d say it’s a decent buy, but nothing that will blow you away. It’s a good way to smell fresh during the warmer months of the year and could be a solid option for a guy on a tight budget.

I prefer Nautica Voyage over this. However, you might prefer Blue between those two. That’s usually not the case, for most people, though.

I think that this is still one of the best smelling Nautica colognes, but rather middling versus other brands in this price range.

That’s not too big of an accomplishment, as the brand has put out a lot of duds over the years. This one is still okay versus the rest of the competition at this price. It was better than it’s current form, at one time.

Fresh, simple, and you know what you’re getting out of it.

Angel Men Pure Havane by Thierry Mugler

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It’s been a while since I’ve done a review of a Thierry Mugler cologne on the site. The last time being, B*Men, which I actually grew to enjoy quite a bit after my initial mixed reaction. I recently received another sample with one of my cologne orders, and it’s one of the flanker fragrances of the Angel Men (A*Men) series, Pure Havane.

While I’ve smelled this cologne before, I was wanting to give Pure Havane a longer try, and see exactly how it smells, performs, and whether or not it is worth a purchase. In this post, I will share my thoughts of my experience with this fragrance and try to flesh out a bit as to what this tobacco based juice is all about.

What Does Pure Havane Smell Like?

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

A*Men Pure Havane

The opening of Pure Havane is quite simple. Imagine a fine Cuban cigar dipped in honey and then rolled in a pile of sugar…that’s what this smells exactly like. It’s a very warm, sweet, and slightly sticky sort of smell that is actually quite beautiful and enthralling.

Although, it isn’t listed in the notes, I also detect a hint of vanilla which provides an extra creamy smoothness. Now, if this doesn’t sound like your kind of thing, look elsewhere. However, if you like rich and masculine scents, then Pure Havane is a masterpiece of fragrance.

The tobacco note in this is dominant but it is a rather different experience than something such as Burberry London, the tobacco in Pure Havane is a much lighter and sweeter smelling variety.

As it wears on, the honey note lessens and the vanilla scent gets pushed more into the foreground. Also, the cocoa note emerges and smells like a chocolate powder to me, it must be the way it blends with the honey and vanilla.

There’s a bit of earth spice here, from patchouli, but it mostly stays in the background. The dry down of Pure Havane is all about the rich tobacco and thick honey, with all of the other sweet notes, orbiting these two. Not too much development from this fragrance, but it’s very good in its contained style.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, A*Men Pure Havane is really good. It isn’t overwhelming, but it is on the strong side of things. It doesn’t require that many sprays to be effective, which is a relief with so many weak colognes out there.

The reach does decline during the wear, but the first hours are pretty potent.

It also has really good longevity, this is an all-day kind of scent. However, be aware that it is much more of a skin scent after 5-6 hours but with reasonable application it should still be noticeable.

Pure Havane is for cold weather. If you live in a climate that is hot year round, you probably shouldn’t bother with this at all. I fear it would become a complete mess in the heat, yet, it is so beautiful in the cold weather.

I would say you could wear this to pretty much whatever event you would want to and it seems perfectly acceptable for school and work. Plus, this is a sexy type of cologne. Great for dates or just wanting to get closer. Pure Havane is a very comfy sort of scent.

Overall Impression of Pure Havane

Overall, is Pure Havane a buy? Yep, while it’s limited to colder weather, it is still a fantastic scent and performer. This A*Men flanker is a layered gourmand fragrance with tobacco taking center stage in its profile.

Not everyone enjoys this kind of cologne, so if you’re more into fruity, dry woods, or aquatics then this probably isn’t going to be a good selection.

On the other hand, if you like sweet winter scents (that aren’t sickly sweet) and rich tobacco blends then Pure Havane is an excellent choice.

I think that the opening can be overwhelming or messy at times, but, this one does settle down and get better as it moves along. Not a super mature scent, but it can work well for guys through their 20s and 30s, with exceptions.

The A*Men line has produced some awesome colognes, over the years, and this is among the best.

Update: All of these ‘Pure’ fragrances got discontinued by Mugler.

Mont Blanc Legend Night

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I’ve got a whole box full of samples to do write ups on and over 100 more posts in the works, so this site is going to be real active to close out this year. Today, I have a review of a Mont Blanc flanker fragrance: Legend Night. This cologne was released in 2017. How does it smell? Perform? Is it worth a buy? Please continue below for my full take after wearing it around.

What does Montblanc Legend Night Smell Like?

Notes include: candied apple, cedar, vanilla, cardamom, vetiver, sage, mint, bergamot, fir, lavender, violet, patchouli, and musk

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Night Eau De Parfum, 1 fl. oz.

My Full Review

Here is how Legend Night is described by the insert that came with the sample vial:

Montblanc Legend Night is the incarnation of seduction. This new, woody and sensual Eau de Parfum embodies a mysterious, self-confident and iconic man. The note opens with a citrus freshness lifted by cool spices. Meanwhile the candied apple and cedarwood combination reveals an addictive, masculine heart. This is a strong, memorable and elegant signature where vetiver and woods meet black vanilla.

Is this accurate? Well, in so many words, pretty much. I don’t think I’d use the same level of descriptive adjectives, but I’m not trying to sell this to the masses like Mont Blanc.

It does indeed open with the bergamot citrus note being quite present. It isn’t dominant but is paired with the candied apple and mint to create something very nice. The opening few minutes is reminiscent of a more subdued version of Versace Eros. Ultimately, they are two different colognes, but there is a brief time of similarity.

I really dig the freshness of Legend Night. I think that the mint, sage, and cardamom trio provide a great spice to what might otherwise be another simple vanilla and apple based fragrance.

What’s interesting, now that I’ve worn this for a while. The opening act, can be pretty different, depending on the day and my skin chemistry. Sometimes, that apple and bergamot are very juicy, and it’s a sweet gem of a fragrance. With the vanilla and mint, it’s like a sweeter Versace Eros.

Other times, I spray this on, the cardamom and sage really come through. Honestly, it changes the character of the fragrance in that opening hour. I still really like it, but it doesn’t captivate me, in the same way. Much more woody, herbal, and spicy during these wears.

It has a certain warmth to it, but at the same time a breath of crispy coolness provided by the peppermint. It’s a very smooth and green spice, not like the spice of a hot pepper, or something similar.

As it dries down, the citrus is toned way down, and the herbal spices also take a backseat. This is the point at which the floral notes really come into their own. There is that familiar lavender calmness and a very noticeable violet note, as well.

I originally dismissed this, as being a pretty simple scent. Actually, it does have lots of depth and nuance to it. Just needed to spend more time with Legend Night.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Mont Blanc Legend Night is pretty moderate. With three sprays, it performed just fine on my skin, and never felt weak by any means. Though, it’s not an absolute monster in terms of the sillage.

Longevity is pretty decent, I got seven hours from it more or less.

Update: If I double spray both sides of my neck, the sillage and longevity get a great boost. That doesn’t always happen with fragrances, but this one will get a few more hours with this method.

It will perform best during the fall and winter but can withstand moderate heat fairly well. It’s low key enough to be worn casually or at work. However, as a night time scent, I do think it shines.

Again, it’s not a monster, but it is very sexy and seductive. This is a complement getter and will appeal to women, who are within your immediate orbit.

I actually first wore the sample of this, while in Las Vegas, and received numerous positive comments. Since I’ve gotten a full bottle for my own collection, it still grabs attention, especially early on in the wear.

Overall Impression of Legend Night

Overall, do I like Legend Night? Yes, I actually like it a whole lot. I wasn’t expecting it to be this good, but it’s so fresh and well put together that I can’t help but want to wear this fragrance.

Update: I originally wrote this review, using only the sample vial. The more that I used it, the more I liked wearing this fragrance. As such, I bought a full bottle shortly thereafter.

Update 2: I wore this off an on for a few years. Now, I don’t wear what’s left of the bottle too often. Still like it, but it’s less interesting to me nowadays. Worth a try still, though.

Legend Night quickly became one of my favorite sweet autumn/winter wears and one that I keep coming back to.

It’s not a highly unique scent and it does smell like it was pieced together from other popular colognes, but so what? If one can get a bottle of this at a good price, I’d consider Legend Night to be a steal. Judging by the lower prices I’ve seen around, it’s basically becoming just that.

Individuel by Mont Blanc

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Here is another review from my latest batch of fragrance samples, that I received recently. Today’s cologne is Individuel by Mont Blanc. As always, I want to take a closer look and see what makes up this fragrance, how it smells, how it performs, and whether or not it is worth a purchase. Please continue below for my full take on Individuel for men.

What Does Mont Blanc Individuel Smell Like?

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Notes include: Cinnamon, oakmoss, vanilla, mint, bergamot, lavender, sandalwood, violet, and more

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Individuel Eau de Toilette, 2.5 fl. oz.

My Full Wear Review

The first thing that I am immediately struck by with Individuel is it similarity to a couple other fragrances. It is quite close to Original Santal by Creed and shares a common foundation with Joop!  

Of course when you take a look at the composition of each scent, it becomes clear what they share in common. Namely, cinnamon, vanilla, and sandalwood.

Each of these fragrances are along the same spectrum and Individuel is much closer to Santal than it is Joop!, which is much bolder and spicier.

The main difference with Individuel versus the Creed fragrance is the citrus notes, which are prevalent in the Mont Blanc cologne. The bergamot, raspberry, and juniper notes in Individuel give it a slightly fruity aroma which distinguishes it, in my opinion.

Original Santal has really grown on me and while I still think it’s better than this one, Individuel, is close enough and it’s cheap enough to get a nod.

The opening act starts off with the juniper, raspberry, bergamot, and pineapple. It has a fresh and sweet aroma, which is joined by calming lavender, and cinnamon spice. The cool freshness which permeates the start (juniper and mint) is played well, off of the warmer spiced notes (cinnamon and cardamom), and makes Individuel enjoyable.

As it dries down, this clean freshness, becomes woodier and creamier. The sweetness of the raspberry is paired with vanilla, on top of that sandalwood base.

It’s honestly not that complex and is pretty steady, as to what you get from this fragrance, thereafter. A sweet slightly woody scent, with a creaminess, which is dotted with cinnamon spice.

Sillage and Longevity

The projection is pretty good on this. It’s not overwhelming, but not weak either. It’ll create a scent bubble of around 3-5 feet from the skin. This Mont Blanc is not a beast, but it isn’t really intended to be so.

I also get moderate longevity, of about 6-8 hours, depending on the day. Individuel is a solid performer and more than useful, for most occasions. There are other fragrances from this brand that don’t hold up as well as this. So, it was somewhat surprising that this one did with the notes it has.

Versatility. When Should Individuel be Worn?

Individuel is a clean scent, that is useful for daily wear. Since it doesn’t have the heaviness of Joop!, Individuel, can venture into somewhat warmer temperatures, but still isn’t a summer cologne. This one can work well in casual situations or at the office/school.

While not a sexy fragrance, it is attractive enough to be worn in the evenings or on a date, as it does have a pleasant aroma. It is the type of scent, that will draw complements, but not really turn heads.

 

The scent isn’t offensive nor is it overpowering, which gives it plenty of flexibility as to when and where it can be used.

Overall Scent

Overall, I like this cologne. It’s warm, sweet, and has a bit of a candy-ish scent to it. Also, it’s a decent replacement for Santal and a good choice for those who feel that Joop! is too harsh of a fragrance.

The opening is very nice and has an interesting interplay between warm and cold. Then, the refined smoothness does have a nice similarity to the Creed fragrance, when the vanilla and sandalwood take over.

Is it my favorite Mont Blanc cologne? Probably not. However, for the price, I think it’d be a nice pickup for the late winter or early spring months. I don’t think that I’d pay full retail for Individuel, but at a discount, I wouldn’t be opposed to owning it.