Cologne Reviews

CK One Shock Men’s Cologne Review

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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

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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?

nblue

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.