By Designer

Eternity for Men by Calvin Klein

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Calvin Klein has a long history in the fragrance market, dating back to the 1980s. The most amazing part of this fact, is that, many of the scents are still best sellers every year, despite the fact they have been around for so long.

One of the colognes, is Eternity for Men, which debuted way back in 1990 and is still going strong. It has been a while since I’d smelled this fragrance, so, I ordered a sample vial to refresh my memory and decided to write a review.

Also see: The Best Calvin Klein Colognes for Men

What does Eternity for Men Smell Like?

eternity

Notes include: lavender, mandarin, basil, jasmine, sage, sandalwood, amber, rosewood, vetiver, geranium

Click here to try: Eternity for Men

My Full Wear Review

What I’ve always appreciated about Eternity is how simple of a scent it is. Not necessarily, in its complexity of notes but more of its consistency and how you know exactly what you’re getting out of it.

There are many colognes out there with severe performance issues or will take on completely different vibes in different environments but this Calvin Klein fragrance always seems consistent.

It’s opening is very clean and crisp. The lavender note is what I detect throughout and helps to give it an almost soapy quality to it, similar to the lavender in a body wash like, Axe Night.

However, those two scent wholly diverge after that, Eternity has a citrus quality to it from the mandarin and lemon notes, which is complemented by an accord of greens.

The notes that are the strongest or most detectable in Eternity for Men are the lavender, sandalwood, and vetiver. It’s a very smooth and calming type of scent which I would describe as masculine without become too dark and heavy.

Again, the citric and floral notes help to lighten this cologne up a bit and make it more appealing.

There is also the herbal spice contingent, lead by sage, which is most noticeable to my nose after the initial wave of the opening few minutes. It of course, gets subsumed somewhat by the soapy aroma, but it is there in varying strengths throughout.

The drydown period is where I think that Eternity really starts to come into its own, as a fragrance. The woody notes, herbal spice, and other earth ingredients play around in the background quite well.

The rosewood and sandalwood combination is great, with the latter being dominant in the composition. It all comes together as green, clean, with the citrus top notes still powering through, this late in the game.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Its projection is good to very good on my skin. I can certainly detect it and so can those around me but not in an overwhelming or offensive way. Is it long-lasting? It’s moderate in that regard.

Not one that I will smell like 10 hours later or anything like that but neither is it a fragrance which will disappear in 2-3 hours. I have gotten 5-7 hours usually out of it depending on the day, environment, what I’m doing, etc.

I’m sure the performance has probably changed over the years, since that is pretty standard with reformulations, and the like. Even if that’s the case, Eternity for Men still holds up well, where so many others have faltered.

Seasonally, it has always struck me as a springtime sort of scent, or during the early days of autumn, before it really gets chilly. Of course, it can go year round if need be, but that’s the impression it gives off in my mind.

It can be worn casually or a daily office wear. It’s clean enough to be at least semi-formal, but doesn’t have that high end quality, really. It is attractive, has a bit of sexiness, but isn’t a scent that will knock anyone’s socks off. Eternity is appreciated well, overall.

It kind of does skew younger in its use case, but doesn’t have a teenager vibe. Older men can wear this, if they are inclined.

Overall Impressions of Eternity for Men

Overall, this is a very attractive scent. Women seem to like it and it is versatile enough to wear on pretty much any occasion. It is not a cologne which is wholly unique and will make you stand out but it is really nice for what it is.

Eternity is a relatively safe and inexpensive choice as a daily wear, with solid performance and attractiveness. I wouldn’t be opposed to having a small bottle around again for myself on those days where I just want something simple.

Eternity for Men holds up well, even after the passing of decades. It’s a modern classic and one that should continue to have fans for the long haul.

It’s not a world changing scent, but one for guys in their late teens to late twenties (and perhaps beyond) to wear when they need a basic and safe cologne. I have begun to really like Eternity Aqua over this one and spray it on during the summer. So, that’s another option.

Cologne Intense by Houbigant

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Drawing nearly to a close with my men’s fragrance reviews from the last order of samples, I come upon my second Houbigant cologne to take a closer look at. Today, it is the simply named, Cologne Intense.

This scent was released in 2015 under the Houbigant name and has a citrus and herbal character. In this review, I want to take a closer look at how it smells, how it performs, when it can be worn, and whether or not I think that it is worth a purchase.

What does Houbigant Cologne Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: petitgrain, bergamot, neroli, lemon, lavender, pink pepper, tarragon, mate tea

Click here to try: Houbigant Cologne Intense Eau de Parfum Spray, 100 ml

My Full Review

The opening of Cologne Intense is like a citrus based soap with a mix of green and herbal aromas. The mate tea not gives it that herbal feeling and kind of levels out the citrus notes and doesn’t allow them to become too acidic.

The petitgrain is pretty strong at first and definitely give this Houbigant cologne, it’s green sort of element.

After a few minutes, the tarragon note starts to emerge as one of the most dominant notes in this fragrance. It adds a bit of spiciness to the scent to go along with the citrus/soapy/herbal feel that has already been established.

The spiciness never feels all that ‘intense’ to me (nor does the cologne in general) and I think it gets tempered a bit by the lavender.

It does have a dryness to its scent, especially in the latter stages. Dry, greenish, spice, with like a post-shower soapy clean scent on skin, versus a rich lather.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I think this is pretty moderate, and not really intense. However, while it’s not a heavy scent, it is noticeable for most of the wear. It’s just going to be limited to that 2-4 foot range, from wherever that you sprayed Cologne Intense.

It does have fairly good longevity in the 6-8 hour range. So, it isn’t a crappy performer and will get the job done.

But, for the high-end price, it is rather disappointing to only get close to a full workday, while still possibly falling short of even that.

It seems more like a casual scent and geared more towards guys 30+ years in age. So, casual up to semi-formal wear in the warmer weather. It’s clean, fresh, with a soapy quality to it.

Cologne Intense isn’t going to be a club beast or even one that you’d probably reach for before going on a date.

Spring and summertime would be best with this Houbigant. Though, it would be pretty good in most of the year, outside of the extremes of the thermometer.

Overall Impressions of Cologne Intense

Overall, is Cologne Intense worth a buy? To me, no. I don’t think that it really smells that great. It seems so much like a hand soap or some sort of cleaner.

I don’t find it enjoyable and don’t think it is as good as Fougere Royale by Houbigant (which was good, but not my style).

Cologne Intense lacks intensity, which I think is a good thing, since I don’t enjoy the fragrance. It’s fresh and clean but has way too much of an herbal spice for me to want to wear it. It doesn’t smell atrocious, just not great either. Meh.

Also, coming back to this fragrance years after the initial review, the price is crazy high. Over $200 a bottle for Houbigant Cologne Intense, which moves this one into a complete ‘no’ for me.

Versace Eros vs Pour Homme Cologne Comparison

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Here is my latest installment of cologne comparisons on this website. Today, we have another battle of Versace scents between, Eros and Versace Pour Homme. I have already reviewed both of these fragrances individually and now will break down each for those trying to decide between these colognes.

I want to give an overview on how each one smells, how it performs, when it can be worn, and which scent is better overall. So, let’s get into Eros vs Versace Pour Homme.

Tale of the Tape: Eros vs. Versace Pour Homme

Versace Eros

Notes of Eros: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver

Read my Eros review

Shop Amazon for: Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

Versace Pour Homme

Notes of Pour Homme: bergamot, bitter orange leaves, geranium, sage, oud wood, mineral amber, tonka bean, musk

FullSizeRender (40)

Read my Versace Pour Homme Review

Click Here to try: Versace Pour Homme by Versace for Men – 3.4 Ounce EDT Spray

Opening

Versace Pour Homme is really intense up front. The bergamot and bitter orange really pack a wallop from the very start. It’s honestly too much for me.

I do think that Pour Homme gets better, thereafter. I’ve just never been a fan of the opening act.

Eros, is also strong out of the gate but it feels much more well done than Pour Homme. Versace does calm down minutes after spraying but it definitely goes hard and it isn’t amazing enough to compensate.

Newer bottles of Eros seem to go harder with the lemon than the original. To me, there used to be a greater use of the tonka bean, vanilla, and mint up top. Still, I prefer Eros over Pour Homme.

Edge: Eros

Projection

After the opening, Pour Homme calms down into something more on the moderate side of things. It still projects itself better than most colognes, though.

Eros is a beast in this regard, I cap myself at two sprays when I wear it because more than that and it just seems overbearing.

Eros has lost a step, over the years, but it still has an edge.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

Again, I’ve always gotten good wear out of Eros, and it usually lasts for a long time (update: now, it’s like 8 hours).  Pour Homme, is good for 6-7 hours, and then fades out.

Versace Pour Homme isn’t as heavy of a scent as Eros, so I would expect it to not live up to it in this department. Although, it does still perform quite well.

Update: Eros doesn’t last as long as it used to, but will still get a few hours more than its competitor.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

Here’s where it gets more competitive. Eros isn’t an office wear in my opinion, in fact, it is best in the colder weather and more geared to romantic wear. Although, it could be still pulled off casually when applied lightly.

Versace Pour Homme, could be worn in lots of situations and works in pretty much every season. It’s a citrus cologne that can totally be worn in spring/summer and still feel right at home in winter.

Edge: Versace Pour Homme

Overall Scent

I really like Eros, as a smooth and complex gourmand type of fragrance. Yes, it is loud and heavy but there is definitely something quite appealing about its rich blend of mint, vanilla, tonka, and green apple.

Versace Pour Homme, is a pretty good citrus based cologne. It feels a lot like Eau Fraiche but I think that one is better. I also like Dreamer from Versace, better than Pour Homme.

Update: I’m changing my decision on this one. Over the years, Eros has been diminished in a lot of ways performance wise. Add to that, the scent itself has changed somewhat, as has my enjoyment.

Heck, even the aforementioned Dreamer is a newer formula.

Factoring in all of that, I’ve also come to like Versace Pour Homme, a bit more than I used to. I used to really love wearing Eros. Now, I can do without. Still, not a massive Pour Homme fan, but I’ll give it the nod here.

Winner: Versace Pour Homme

4 Fragrances that Smell Similar to Polo Blue EDT

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Polo Blue has been a massive hit for the brand over the past decade. That being the case, it is only natural that people start looking for scents that smell similar to this cologne. Either, to find a slightly better take on the composition or to provide a cheaper alternative which can come close to the Polo Blue smell. In this post, I am going to suggest some options which can do just that.

Colognes that Smell like Polo Blue

If we’re talking  fragrances with nearly the same aroma or cheaper options versus buying Polo Blue EDT, I’ve only come across one real alternative, that satisfies this question specifically. Update: I’ve found a few more that closely matches what we want.

The Inspired By Option

Another Blue Dua– The Dua Brand’s Another Blue Dua is your best bet if you want something that tries to match what you get from Polo Blue EDT. It’s inspired by the original vintage formula of Blue.

Eternity Aqua, listed below, is similar but ultimately a different fragrance. So, this is going to take over as the best option for a lot of people.

I haven’t tried Another Blue Dua, as of yet. I have owned 10 or so other inspired fragrances from Dua and they all hit very close to the mark. I can’t imagine that they don’t get Polo Blue correct. Very affordable and in a more concentrated Extrait de Parfum.

Melon Madness

Aromatic Watermelon– This is a newer entry to the list, as Dossier has now put out their interpretation of the Polo Blue DNA.

Aromatic Watermelon seems to take a bit of a different tact to accomplishing this. Noticeably, suede and cucumber are not listed in the notes here.

Instead, you’ll get cardamom, orris, and verbena in support to accomplish something that smells akin to the Ralph Lauren scent.

Does it accomplish this? I’m not sure, as I haven’t tested this fragrance out. But, I’ve tried Dossier in the past and they’ve done a good job with their versions of designer scents. It’s just another option for a good price to choose from.

The Best Alternate

Calvin Klein ETERNITY for Men AQUA Eau de Toilette, 3.4 Fl Oz– Eternity Aqua is the closest thing you will get to the aroma of Polo Blue EDT. Actually, it comes quite close to replicating it exactly, but there are a few differences.

Mainly, the opening act, is what is so similar to Blue. Eternity shares the cucumber note and that aquatic type of scent, but also features a plum note and citrus, to separate it from the Polo. It turns into a citrus spiciness with Sichuan pepper, with elements from the original Eternity for Men.

Is it better than Polo Blue? In terms of smell, they are really close, but I’m actually partial to Aqua. The longevity of Polo Blue is better, but I get 5-7 hours from this Calvin Klein. It would ultimately come down to price.

Right now, you can find full bottles of Eternity Aqua at some places for under $30, which is a saving versus Blue. If you can get one of the cheap bottles, go with this on over Ralph Lauren. Eternity Aqua Review

Tommy Bahama Option

Maritime Deep Blue– Maritime Deep Blue is one of the more recent releases from Tommy Bahama and it smells quite a bit like a batch of Polo Blue.
There’s not nearly as much of the aquatic-like elements and the citrus notes are toned down. Still present, just not with the same opening intensity.
It’s base has a certain dryness to it, with a really solid juniper note, which is the main distinction from the Polo Blue’s of the world.
As it dries down, it becomes a bit more unique with its cardamom and fresh juniper. It feels dry, fresh, and spicy. Plus, the nice floral and woody touches. Maritime Deep Blue Review

Any Other Alternative Choices?

There aren’t really any other choices for a one to one experience from cheaper brands. However, another option from just the popular EDT version of Polo Blue, is to go with the EDP. I actually enjoy the EDP Polo Blue more, as it has a spicier edge than does the EDT.

To me, it is underappreciated, and provides a similar yet different enough experience from the original to be a great alternative.

Alright, this is my list as it stands of similar men’s fragrances to Polo Blue. I will update this page, as needed, if I happen to come across any other options of colognes that could fit the bill.

Eau de Lacoste L.12.12 Jaune (Yellow)

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One of the few things that I actually like about being in airports ,is the proliferation of duty free shops and luxury retailers, from which I can test out a few sprays of new colognes.

Today, while at El Prat in Barcelona, I got to sample Eau de Lacoste L.12.12 Jaune and thought that I’d post a one-time wear review of this fragrance. Update: I’m coming back to this one years later, with more on Jaune.

Now for those of you who don’t know French, this is the yellow bottle of the series, and was released back in 2015.  As usual, I’m going to give my thoughts on how it smells, performs, and whether or not I think that it is worth a purchase.

What does Lacoste Yellow (Jaune) Men’s Perfume Smell Like?

Notes Include: grapefruit, pink pepper, cyprus, tonic, golden delicious apples

Click Here to try: Lacoste Eau de Lacoste L.12.12 Jaune Eau de Toilette for Men, 3.3 fl. oz.

My Full Review

Upon first spraying Jaune, I immediately identified the first note as grapefruit. There is a slight spice to it, which when combined with the citrus overtones, creates an energetic and lively fragrance.

The opening is rather bold and instantly reminds one of a summer day with a hint of woodiness provided by the cyprus note, gives Jaune a somewhat unique feeling for this type of citrus fragrance.

There is a tonic note which gives this Yellow cologne, that slightly fizzy and upbeat kind of aroma. It’s like a cold drink paired with a peppery bite, with a fresh woodsy overtone consisting of cypress/vetiver.

One thing that I noticed about Jaune, is that, it doesn’t particularly develop beyond its initial scent. It’s very simplistic and straightforward. That initial burst is really quite good but this cologne lacks any real character, other than what it first shows you.

That in itself, wouldn’t be a problem. However, it becomes much more noticeable, when its other weakness is put front and center. Coming back to this perfume, multiple times, I still never really get any development so to speak of on my skin.

Jaune is sweet and citrusy, with a pleasant freshness that permeates the wear.

Sillage. How Long does it Last? Versatility.

The longevity of this one, like the other Eau de Lacoste scents I have reviewed, leaves much to be desired. Again, it starts off bold and seems like it’ll be a welcome addition to your cologne collection, but then fades relatively fast and is relegated to a skin scent.

It does project very well for the first 30-45 minutes of wear…which just ain’t enough. I also sprayed Polo Red Extreme, on my other arm at the same time, and that Ralph Lauren fragrance is still going strong. The difference is very noticeable in terms of performance.

As a weaker fragrance, it will stick around for maybe 4-6 hours, depending on the day. Not great for the retail price, but at a discount it could be a nice pick up, for those warmer days.

Update: Yep, right in that 4-6 hour range, is about what to expect from this one. This whole series from Lacoste, had pretty mediocre performance.

I don’t know that I like the scent of the Yellow bottle of Eau de Lacoste better than the White, but it might have the edge (or be tied) with Red.

Jaune is a bit different than the others, it’s a casual spring/summer scent, but I’d categorize it more towards the sporty end of the spectrum.

Again, it’s a simple scent. I’d say that it’s more geared toward younger guys, up through their 20s. It’s light enough to wear professionally. Smells nice, but isn’t sexy, nor does it have the power of a club beast.

Overall Impression of Lacoste Jaune

Overall, is it worth a buy? Maybe. If you can get a hold of a cheap bottle of Jaune, then, I would consider having a bottle. The scent is a really nice and energetic citrus, if that’s your thing, than this Eau de Lacoste edition is worth a look.

Again, I wish Lacoste would’ve beefed up the longevity of these scents because they are good casual colognes for the warmer months. Good smell, not so great performance.

I enjoy the grapefruit and the tonic, there are other summer colognes which do more of the straight lemonade vibe, so this was a slightly different take. An intense version would’ve been great, but that’ll probably never happen.

Update: This is still around on discounter sites, as of now, even if Lacoste discontinued it. I’m pretty sure they did, anyway. Jaune was one of the better editions of the L.12.12. lineup, in terms of smell.

The performance while not great, was also better than some of the others. Very pleasant, fresh, fizzy, and sweet. I just saw it for under $60 and somewhat cheaper with a promo code. In that $40-50 range, it might be worthwhile for some, while the stock of Jaune dwindles.