Fragrances

Dylan Blue Pour Homme by Versace

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This is my third entry of my one time wear reviews while traveling in Europe. Today, I am going to give my impressions of Versace Pour Homme’s, Dylan Blue. This has become a very popular fragrance.

In this post, I’m going to discuss how it smells, performs, my impressions, and whether or not I think that it is worth a buy.

Note: I have updated this post a few years after my initial impressions, after spending more time wearing this scent, and having a better feel for it.

My Verdict

Versace Dylan Blue is a youthful citrus-aquatic fragrance that opens with grapefruit, bergamot, fig leaf, and a watery freshness. That opening is the strongest part of the scent, giving it a bright and appealing character that stands apart from its later stages.

As it dries down, ambroxan becomes much more prominent alongside black pepper, violet leaf, woods, and a subtle touch of smoky incense. The result is pleasant and crowd-pleasing, though it starts to feel more familiar and less interesting after the first hour.

Overall, Dylan Blue is a versatile and affordable choice for younger men who want a simple, compliment-friendly fragrance for warm weather, dates, or nights out. It smells good and offers solid value, but it does not bring much originality if you already own similar modern blue fragrances.

What Does Dylan Blue Smell Like?

Notes include: black pepper, violet leaf, grapefruit, bergamot, tonka bean, ambrox, fig leaf

Click here to try: VERSACE Pour Homme Sealed Dylan Blue Eau de Toilette, 3.4 Ounce

🌊 Versace Dylan Blue — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Citrus Aquatic Woody
Key Notes Grapefruit, Bergamot, Fig Leaf, Ambroxan, Black Pepper, Violet Leaf, Incense, Tonka Bean
Season Spring, Summer, Warm Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Daily Wear, Dates, Night Out, Clubs, Social Events
Longevity Consistently around 6–7 hours
Sillage Strong at first, then settles into average projection
Rating ★★★★☆ 7.4 / 10
Quick Verdict A youthful and versatile citrus-aquatic fragrance with grapefruit, bergamot, fig leaf, ambroxan, pepper, and light incense. The bright aquatic opening is the highlight, while the later ambroxan-heavy dry down becomes more familiar and basic. It offers strong initial projection, consistent 6–7-hour longevity, and plenty of warm-weather versatility. A solid affordable choice for someone seeking an easy, compliment-friendly scent, though it is not especially original.

My Full Review

Upon first sniff of this fragrance, I immediately want to place in the same realm as a fragrance such as Acqua Di Gio Profumo. It’s different mind you, but, it seems to belong to that same class of citrus/aquatics.

Between the two, Dylan Blue is a more youthful and lighter cologne, but as it dries down the similarities between Profumo fade and the ambroxan of Dior’s Sauvage begin to emerge.

Dylan Blue really is kind of an amalgamation scent of the aforementioned colognes, mixed with maybe one or two others, that I cannot think of at the moment.

Dylan Blue is aquatic at first, with the grapefruit and bergamot notes, sitting on top of that watery base. Plus, there is the ambroxan note, which is nice and warm but gets stronger as it moves along.

The fig note and citrus pairing at the top is actually quite good. I think it might be my favorite aspect of this Versace release. While the citrus and ambroxan, bring to mind Sauvage, this one isn’t nearly as spicy as the Dior. Plus, the fig and aquatic notes set it apart.

The initial burst is fairly short lived, less than an hour, and the Sauvage-esque spirit takes over. At that point, it seems much weaker than it had been, but the longevity isn’t terrible.

Not as bad as another grapefruit citrusy cologne I just reviewed, Lacoste Jaune. My biggest complaint with Versace scents is how chemical they can smell.

I liked the original Versace Pour Homme well enough but that has the same kind of faux-citrus smell.  There is also a woody-fig note that gives it another layer but it isn’t all that complex of a scent.

As it dries down, I start to pick up more of the ambroxan, some black pepper, and even a little bit of violet leaf. The citrus has settled somewhat and Dylan Blue becomes more wholeheartedly ambroxan based.

I should also mention the slight smokiness from the included incense note, during its latter stages. It’s a great little touch, that I picked up on the more I wore around the contents of my mini bottle of this cologne.

Sillage, How Long Blue Lasts, and Versatility

Projection is good at first and then dies out a bit. It’s pretty average overall. Though, the sillage can seem heavy at first.

The longevity of Dylan Blue has been consistently 6-7 hours on my skin. Seemingly no more, no less. It’s actually kind of weird, how quickly it goes from a nice amount of power to just completely gone.

At least, it consistently hits that mark, and I know what to expect from it beforehand. That’s not a short amount of time, but it’s not a monster, in that regard.

I think that where Dylan Blue shines is in its versatility. I think it’d be appropriate for almost any summer or warm weather occasion. It would also be more appropriate for young men, sub-25 years of age, and is sexy enough for date night/club wear.

This is one that will get positive attention out of it. It’s not an offensive scent and is generally crowd pleasing. Dylan Blue is popular and so it’s going to have plenty of fans, in public spaces.

It’s a really nice scent for younger guys, who want something stylish, and that can fit in a wide variety of situations. The performance isn’t top notch, but it is good enough for most purposes.

Overall Impressions of Dylan Blue

Overall, is Dylan Blue worth a buy? Not for me, BUT I could see how it could work for some guys. If you need a summer scent that is pretty basic and will draw complements, I don’t think you would go wrong here.

For me, it doesn’t really offer anything different from scents that I already own or have samples of…so it’s kind of pointless. I certainly don’t hate it, in fact, I have come to like it a good deal more than I had initially.

Mostly, I like the opening hour or so. Thereafter, Dylan Blue just seems kind of basic to me. Not particularly interesting or all that attractive. Decent.

I just with I got more time to enjoy the fig note and the initial citrus blend, that’s actually one great aspect of this cologne.

However, at it’s price point and with it’s versatility, it would be a solid pick up for someone who wants a simple no-brainer. I like the aroma for the most part, not my favorite, but it does smell good.

Hamptons by Bond No. 9

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In today’s review, we have another entry from Bond No. 9. It is a unisex fragrance called Hamptons. I’ve been wearing this around for the past few days, out of the sample vial that I received. In this post, I’m going to cover what’s in it, what it smells like, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a buy.

My Verdict

Bond No. 9 Hamptons is a very clean citrus-floral fragrance with sharp lime and lemon notes layered over jasmine, sandalwood, and a slightly herbal touch of sage. The opening can feel somewhat harsh, but it becomes smoother, greener, and more balanced after roughly 30 minutes.

The dry down has a fresh-out-of-the-shower quality, blending jasmine, sage, soft woods, and understated florals. It is pleasant and easy to wear, though it is more clean and casual than seductive or attention-grabbing.

Overall, Hamptons does its job well and is a solid choice for someone seeking a low-key, long-lasting citrus-floral scent.

🌊 Hamptons by Bond No. 9 — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Citrus Floral Woody
Key Notes Bergamot, Lime Blossom, Jasmine, Sage, Sandalwood, Cedar, Musk, Rose, Magnolia
Season Spring, Summer, Warm Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Daily Wear, Work, Daytime, Relaxed Social Settings
Longevity Double-digit hours of wear, even with only two sprays
Sillage Strong at first, then settles into a consistent moderate projection
Rating ★★★★☆ 8.1 / 10
Quick Verdict A hyper-clean citrus-floral fragrance with sharp lime, jasmine, sage, sandalwood, and soft woods. The opening can be harsh, but it becomes smoother, greener, and more balanced during the dry down. Strong early projection, excellent longevity, and an easygoing unisex character make it a solid warm-weather option, although it is more fresh and casual than sexy or distinctive.

Hamptons by Bond No. 9 Overview

Notes include: bergamot, lime blossom, jasmine, rose, sandalwood, magnolia, musk, sage, and cedar

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Hamptons by Bond No. 9 For Men And Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3-Ounces

My Full Review

The opening citrus notes of Hamptons are quite sharp. I think it’s the fact that it is blending with the floral notes, which gives it this kind of odd feeling versus the usual citrus fare.

For me, 10-15 minutes into wear, I start to get whiffs of the jasmine and sage notes, that reminds me of walking through a green garden during springtime.

The jasmine remains the strongest floral note for me, throughout the wear. Not much rose or magnolia, at all. Very light and they sit underneath the main accord.

Hamptons is a hyper clean smelling scent, due to the power of the lime/lemon aroma that it generates that sits on top of what could be considered soapy/body wash ingredients including jasmine and sandalwood.

The slight herbal tinge provided by the sage, is one of the reasons that I think this gets compared with Creed’s Silver Mountain Water. I totally get the comparison but I feel that the Creed is the better fragrance, even if neither of these are really my style. As I recall, the Creed has a metallic quality that this one lacks.

It only becomes more green, fresh, and woody as it dries down. The sharp citrus opening fades at about 30 minutes for me and the scent feels much more well blended. Hamptons is so light and clean, in a very fresh out of the shower, kind of way.

The trail end is a woody mix of sage and floral notes. It’s a really nice mix, and develops into something quite a bit different from the opening act of the perfume.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts out on the strong end but then morphs into a much more moderate fragrance. The sillage doesn’t require that much, in terms of sprays, because it can

The longevity is absolutely great. We’re talking double digit hours of wear with only two sprays, which should be how all fragrances at this price point perform.

For seasonality, I’d say spring, as a definite. Also, would work in the summertime. It wouldn’t perform badly in the cold, but I’d much rather wear something else that is more suited to the colder months of the year.

Hamptons is a casual scent. It’s pleasant but not really sexy. It is kind of ambiguous, as it is in reality a unisex scent. It would absolutely work on male or female.

Overall Impressions of Hamptons

Overall, would I recommend Hamptons? I like it. It just isn’t my own personal style. If you’re looking for a really clean citrus/floral, that is low key and gives good performance, it’s a solid buy.

Just understand what you’re getting with this one and don’t expect some super sexy ‘club’ cologne. For what it does, Hamptons does it well.

Again, it’s similar to Silver Mountain Water by Creed, but not exactly. I wouldn’t try to substitute one for the other. Hamptons isn’t one of my favorite Bond scents, but it can definitely be worthwhile for the right person.

Legend for Men by Mont Blanc

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Mont Blanc Legend is a pretty popular cologne and for very good reason, it smells good to almost everyone. The fragrance is featured in a black and metallic bottle which could be characterized as minimalist in style, but I’ll tell you looks really damn cool.

Introduced in 2011, this scent has quickly become a hit due to its versatility and universal wear-ability among all different types of men.

While it isn’t some off the wall or highly unique scent, it is a very pleasant one, which I will now take a closer look at in this post. How does it smell? What are the notes? How long does it last?

My Verdict

Mont Blanc Legend is a crisp, clean fragrance built around lavender, pineapple, apple, tonka bean, and smooth sandalwood. The opening is lightly fruity, but lavender quickly takes control and gives the scent its smooth, dry, masculine character.

It is simple, pleasant, and unlikely to offend anyone, making it an easy choice for work, school, or casual everyday wear. The scent is also highly versatile, particularly during spring and summer, though it can work through most of the year.

Overall, Legend smells good and is worth considering in a smaller bottle, but it is not especially unique or long-lasting.

🖊️ Mont Blanc Legend — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Fruity Aromatic Woody
Key Notes Lavender, Pineapple Leaf, Apple, Bergamot, Tonka Bean, Sandalwood, Geranium, Oakmoss, Lemon Verbena, Rose
Season Spring, Summer, Fall, Mild Winter Weather
Occasion Work, School, Casual Wear, Daily Wear, Dates, Social Events
Longevity Around 5–6 hours before gradually fading from the skin
Sillage Light to moderate — noticeable at close range, but never overpowering
Rating ★★★☆☆ 7.2 / 10
Quick Verdict A smooth, clean, and highly versatile lavender fragrance with pineapple, apple, tonka bean, and sandalwood. It is masculine, pleasant, and easy to wear for work, school, or casual situations. The scent is not particularly unique, and its light projection and 5–6-hour longevity are the main drawbacks. Best considered as an affordable smaller-bottle purchase, especially since Legend Night is more interesting overall.

Mont Blanc Legend Overview

legend

Notes include: Bergamot, Pineapple Leaf, Sandalwood, Apple, rose, oak moss, lemon verbena, geranium, lavender,  And Tonka Bean

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Eau de Toilette 3.3 fl.oz.

My Full Review

While there is a pineapple note within Legend, I don’t get the same type of strong opening like I would from another pineapple note such as Creed’s Aventus. The note is definitely in there, it is just that it doesn’t stand out as much.

What I do notice in the opening, is how utterly crisp and fresh smelling Legend is. This cologne has a very clean scent and doesn’t seem thick or heavy in the air as some other colognes might.

The bergamot here isn’t sharp or bright, pretty subdued, and gets lost in the shuffle pretty quickly. 

The opening is more fruity than the rest of the wear, though, it really isn’t typical. It smells a lot like an advanced version of Playboy New York, which is wholly watered down, when compared to this.

In the beginning, I pick up quite a bit of tonka bean, but it smells kind of different to my nose. I think one of the other notes in this composition, is making it seem different.

The lavender note quickly takes the lead with Legend. I think that this note is what takes the sharp edge off of the pineapple, which at this point, is also joined by the apple.

There is some smooth sandalwood lurking around in the composition but it isn’t overtly powerful. It’s pretty linear from here on out, with lavender and the fruit notes, with pineapple in the front.

Ultimately, what I get from Mont Blanc Legend, is a smooth and somewhat dry lavender blend with fruity notes. The further along is gets in the wear, the more everything starts to run together, into a sort of generically fresh scent. It’s pretty simple and isn’t going to offend anyone around you.

Sillage and Longevity

Projection wise, it is a light to moderate fragrance. The sillage isn’t very huge on this one and compared to the newer, Legend Night, it is downright weak in comparison (spoiler: Legend Night is better).

It’ll be noticeable for those who get quite close to you. Which is fine, for many uses, but the overall performance is never that great.

The longevity on this one seems to go about 5-6 hours, slowly working closer to the skin, until it fades completely. I have never really gotten a long wear out of Legend.

Versatility

Legend is a very versatile fragrance in that it can be worn almost year round and to any type of event or environment. I think that it would be best in the spring or summer months but I wouldn’t be opposed to wearing it during the autumn or even on certain wintry days.

This is they type of cologne you can quickly spray on before work or school and not have to second guess it at all.

This isn’t a cologne that will overpower the room, but is one which will grab some attention, because its clean scent is also a fairly seductive one.

The opening then transitions into something sweeter but still manly, which I think is the reason it gets complemented by women. It feels much more casual to me, though, rather than something that’s built for the nightlife.

Overall Impressions of Mont Blanc Legend

Legend while containing fruity notes is a masculine scent which is probably best suited for younger guys who are in their 20s, though I wouldn’t exclusively pigeonhole it as such.

This isn’t really a ‘unique’ scent, in that, there are others which smell similar but it is one that stands out from the crowd a bit.

It has a moderate longevity, which is my only real complaint about this cologne, if it lasted longer it’d be on my list of definite everyday wears but it isn’t completely weak either like Artisan. Honestly, the longevity is just okay.

Overall, I’d say that Legend is a buy, I would just get a small bottle of it though because I prefer something that is longer lasting but I for sure dig the scent.

However, I doubt I ever would buy a bottle of this because, Legend Night is so much better and more interesting to me.

Hugo Element by Hugo Boss

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I recently got a hold of a sample of Hugo Element cologne by Hugo Boss. I’ve already done plenty of Hugo Boss reviews on this site and I’ve been wearing Hugo Red seemingly a lot over the summer, so I was looking forward to getting to try out another scent from this house’s line.

In this post, I want to explore how this fragrance smells, how it performs, when it could be worn, and whether or not it is worth a buy.

 

My Verdict

Hugo Element is a crisp, refreshing aquatic fragrance built around juicy citrus, ginger, and a light watery quality. The scent itself is enjoyable and easy to wear, although it becomes fairly linear after the opening and does not offer much complexity.

Its biggest weakness is performance, with soft projection and only around four hours of longevity before it fades away.

Overall, Element smells good, but its weak performance and discontinued status make it difficult to recommend over stronger alternatives.

💧 Hugo Element by Hugo Boss — At a Glance
Fragrance Family Fresh Aquatic Citrus
Key Notes Ginger, Citrus, Coriander, Calone, Cedar, Coumarin
Season Spring, Summer, Warm Weather
Occasion Casual Wear, Work, Daytime, Errands, Outdoor Activities
Longevity Around 4 hours before fading into a skin scent
Sillage Soft to moderate — stays fairly close to the skin
Rating ★★★☆☆ 6.6 / 10
Quick Verdict A crisp and refreshing aquatic fragrance with juicy citrus, ginger, and a light watery character. It smells pleasant and is easy to wear during warm weather, but the experience is fairly linear. Weak projection and roughly four hours of longevity keep it from being an easy recommendation, especially now that it has been discontinued.

Hugo Element Overview

hugo element

Notes include: ginger, coriander, cedar, courmarin, calone

Click here to try: Hugo Boss Cologne for Men, Element, 3.0 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

Note: I’m updating this page after 6 years to meet the new formatting of the website. Boss Element has been discontinued for a long while at the point.

The opening of Hugo Element is kind of an aquatic blast of ginger for the first 5 minutes before transitioning into a citrus laced fragrance. I have to say, the citrus notes in this are fantastic, they are really fresh and juicy.

Element is quite crisp and aquatic, which I found to be very attractive, and I was beginning to enjoy this cologne a whole lot. The calone note isn’t too heavy here, just adding a light impression of being aquatic.

That said, it is a very linear experience, after 10 minutes you know exactly what you’re getting. There isn’t any real complexity, just clean/aquatic/citrus with ginger undertones.

Usually, I would write about its development, but there doesn’t seem to be any here with this Boss scent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Element isn’t great. It is on the softer side of moderate, which may be better than expected for a cologne like this. It’s not a heavy scent that’s going to leave a long scent trail in your wake.

It’ll stay 3-5 feet from your skin and then move back closer in fairly rapid succession. Not absolutely terrible, but a boost in power would’ve made Element a better option for most guys.

Longevity is also another issue. It not only quickly becomes a skin scent, it also only lasts around 4 hours, which is disappointing. Just when you’re getting to really enjoy what the fragrance is bringing to the table, it’s already fading away.

I know not to expect too much from this sort of light, watery, and warm weather scent…but something more would’ve been fantastic.

I feel like this could’ve been a really nice spring/summer casual wear, had it been designed with better performance. It would be safe to wear to work, but it’s not a formal sort of fragrance at all. Though, outdoors or out around town during the day and it’d be cool.

A good all around balance is here, just the execution doesn’t have a payoff.

Overall Impressions of Hugo Element

Overall, is Hugo Element a buy? I can’t say yes. I actually like the fragrance itself, it works, and has great citrus notes. With a little added intensity, this would’ve been a nice scent to wear around during the summer.

The citrus is really nice, I love ginger, and it is a refreshing wear. It had some positive aspects in place, it just needed a way to bring it all together better.

I’m sure you could double the application and get a longer lasting use out of it; but why bother with better performing scents out there.

Again, this one has been discontinued for a long time. Not too big of a deal that it’s gone, as it’s not too difficult to find something else in this style. Hugo Element is mostly forgettable.

Cool Water vs. Polo Blue EDT Cologne Comparison

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In this post, I want to do a head to head comparison between two popular men’s aquatics: Polo Blue EDT vs. Cool Water by Davidoff. Now, I’m not a huge fan of either, but I do think they are both solid colognes. The question is, which one smells better? Is there a difference in how long they last? Which is more versatile?

Quick Overview

Cool Water and Polo Blue EDT are both easygoing fresh aquatics made for casual wear and warmer weather. Cool Water is the cheaper classic with a sharper, minty-green feel, while Polo Blue is smoother, cleaner, and a little more polished. In the end, Polo Blue wins overall, but Cool Water still makes sense if value is the main priority.

Category Cool Water Polo Blue EDT Winner
Opening Opens with mint, tobacco, spice, and a green aquatic freshness. More distinctive, but sharper and less immediately smooth. Opens with cucumber, melon, tangerine, and amber. Simple and familiar, but smoother and more enjoyable overall. Polo Blue EDT
Projection Moderate projection. Noticeable enough for daily wear, but not loud or overpowering. Also moderate. It performs at about the same level and stays safe around others. Push
Longevity Newer bottles usually last around 6-7 hours, which is solid but not quite as strong as Polo Blue. Usually lasts around 7-8 hours, giving it a slight advantage in wear time. Polo Blue EDT
Versatility Works well for casual wear, school, work, spring, summer, and easy everyday use. Also fits casual wear, school, work, spring, summer, and safe everyday situations. Push
Overall Scent More affordable and has a nice minty aquatic opening, but the soapy middle can be a drawback. Cleaner, smoother, and more enjoyable overall, even if it is somewhat simple and linear. Polo Blue EDT
Value Usually much cheaper, making it the better buy if you mainly want an affordable aquatic cologne. Smells better overall, but the higher price may not be worth it for everyone. Cool Water

Tale of the Tape: Cool Water vs. Polo Blue

Polo Blue

Notes include: amber, melon, patchouli, geranium, cucumber, tangerine, moss, musk

Click here to try: Polo Blue by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau De Toilette Natural Spray, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original review: Polo Blue Review

Cool Water

Notes include: lavender, mint, tobacco, amber, musk, jasmine, sandalwood, neroli, coriander, rosemary, and more

Click here to try: Davidoff Cool Water Edt Spray for Men, 6.7 oz

Read my Review: Cool Water

Opening

Cool Water opens up with mint, tobacco, and of course these notes are surrounded by an aquatic aroma. It’s got a green and fresh smell, that later picks up white floral notes, and a fairly soapy scent. I really do like the uncured tobacco note and the crisp spice of the mint. It is at times sharp and then smooth.

Polo Blue goes in a different direction with the crisp aquatic style, as it starts off with cucumber and melon. These notes are flanked by a light tangerine and amber. It is pretty straightforward, pleasant, if unremarkable.

Which is better? While I like the mint tobacco combo in Cool Water, I actually like the smell of Polo Blue better. Yes, it can be boring, but it works well.

Edge: Polo Blue

Projection

The sillage of each of these fragrances is consistently moderate. Neither goes into extreme projection mode, nor are they weak. Solid, but won’t overpower a room.

For me, I don’t notice a real difference between how much either projects on my skin. Call it a tie.

Edge: Push

Longevity

With newer bottles of Cool Water, I get 6-7 hours of wear from it. Older formulations were about 8. That’s the way that it goes, usually. However, Cool Water still holds up rather well.

Polo Blue hits 7-8 hours pretty consistently, not a huge margin, but better than the Davidoff. Maybe the 1980s version of Cool Water was even better, but it’s still decent these days.

Edge: Polo Blue

Versatility

Both of these fragrances are solid choices for everyday wear. They can go casual or to school or to work, depending on your circumstances. Cool Water and Polo Blue are safe and inoffensive, to those around you, and can gather complements without choking out a room.

Neither is a club scent or really a date night cologne. They shine in spring/summer, but can go year round, as well. There’s no real distinction, in this category.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Cool Water has a really nice opening act, with the mint and tobacco, that sit in the watery mix. I’m not a huge fan of when it turns soapy, towards the middle, but it does come around again with a woody/aquatic base to round things out.

There’s a reason that it’s been popular for so long and it has an advantage of being very reasonably priced.

I like Polo Blue, I’m not a huge fan of the scent (it’s pretty linear and simple), but I would rather wear it over Cool Water. For me, the EDP version, is better than this EDT that I’m comparing to Cool Water. But, I’d take both of the Polo options over the Davidoff.

Why? It just smells better overall. These are fairly evenly matched scents, with similar uses and performance. The melon/tangerine combination with crisp cucumber and the amber notes are quite enjoyable in Polo Blue.

It also doesn’t have the sort of soapy aroma, that Cool Water gives off at times. It’s not way better, but it does have a slight edge in this comparison.

Cool Water is the more inexpensive option, often by quite a lot, so take that into consideration. I like Polo Blue more, but not sure if I’d pay $30 more for a bottle, if I could get Cool Water and another scent for the same price. But that’s up to you and your situation.

Winner: Polo Blue EDT