By Designer

9 Best Smelling Ralph Lauren Polo Colognes

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Ralph Lauren is a designer which caters to classic American sensibilities and tastes. One of his major accomplishments in the fashion world has been his line of fragrances for men and women.

There are the classics, the flankers, and some newer entries that are also great. However, with so many to choose from it can be difficult for guys to make a decision on which one to go with.

For this list, I have narrowed it down to what I feel are the nine best Ralph Lauren colognes for men. Each one brings something different to the table and should be adaptable to many different lifestyles. Also see: The Best Smelling Ralph Lauren Perfumes for Ladies

What are the Best Scents for Men by Ralph Lauren?

Best Winter Scent for Men

Ralph Lauren Polo Red Extreme Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce–  So, in this updated list I am replacing the old Polo Red with the newer flanker release, Polo Red Extreme. Further update: This has now been discontinued.

Why? Because it’s better than both Polo Red and the Intense version. Plus, it has better performance than either.

This version is darker and doesn’t have the same level of fruitiness created by the cranberry note. This is joined by a certain level of smokiness and a familiar smelling coffee note to go along with blood orange. Sweet, rich, and masculine.

You get the opening citrus note of blood orange mixed with coffee. Later, coffee becomes dominate and there is an almost chocolate-like aroma hanging in the air, when blended with the wood notes. Pretty straightforward scent, but great.

I actually do like the other two Polo Red colognes, a whole lot. I just feel that the folks at Ralph Lauren, kept tweaking the scents, until it became much improved.

Although, this isn’t really the same as the original Polo Red, which would still be on the list if it had better longevity. The coffee note here is great and sort of takes elements of Rochas Man and pairs those with elements of the Polo Red lineup. Polo Red Extreme Full Review

The Next Red in Line

Polo Red Parfum– Red Extreme is still my favorite of the line so far. I do like the original, as well. However, the newer Red Parfum release might be my second favorite. It is more unique, while still having some of that same sort of presentation as the original Polo Red.

This one also doesn’t have that original cranberry note and utilizes the blood orange of Extreme up top. The initial citrus isn’t too overpowering and it has a shorter run at the head, since you get the spice of pink pepper and the slightly bitter absinthe note.

It interestingly shifts into a floral accord, which isn’t a staple of the Polo Red colognes. Lavender is strong here, with a touch of orris softness.

Overall, it is less tart than Red. With a good use of sweetness, a fresh spice, and an easy to wear formulation. Polo Blue Parfum is also pretty good, but I prefer this and the others on the list. Full Review

Top Overall Daily Wear Scent

Polo Black by Ralph Lauren for Men – 4.2 Ounce EDT Spray– Moderate and masculine scent that works well for the day or nighttime. Wonderful fragrance that is pleasing yet subtle. Possibly the best Polo cologne for a wide audience.

An interesting mango note is joined by a blend of sage and patchouli, which gives Polo Black a woody and spicy undertone.

The top of the order include some more citrus notes like lemon and tangerine. Highly popular scent. Notes include: tonka bean, iced mango, patchouli noir, spanish sage, and silver armoise.

Polo Double Black is also a good choice. That one is obviously a flanker fragrance, but the composition is arranged differently, and I think Black does it better. Even though, this is termed ‘Black’, there really isn’t anything dark about it. It’s a masculine fruit-laden scent, that does a great job of drawing complements. Polo Black Full Review

Best Newer Ralph Lauren Cologne

Ralph’s Club– The Polo Intense release was a nice update to the classic formula, but I think Ralph’s Club EDP is the better fragrance.

It’s not overly complicated but has a fresh and clean profile, with a distinct clary sage note at the top. Has a soapy clean quality with an underlying woodiness from the cedar note. I get the comparisons to YSL’s Y, but it’s not exactly the case, as the apple note is missing.

What you do get with Ralph’s Club is an easy to wear and mass appealing fragrance that can be worn pretty much anywhere by any guy. It’s a very safe pick.

Has a level of sweetness to the aroma and the dry down is mostly a clean lavender smell. Good longevity, also. Ralph’s Club Review

Top Blue Release

Polo Deep Blue Parfum– Usually, when you get this deep into flanker fragrances, the quality seems to drop off. However, the 2020 release of Polo Deep Blue Parfum, has become a great addition to the Blue line.

Deep Blue takes a similar formula to the other offerings, but adds a mango note, and Deep Ocean accord. The opening act is great, as the mango (much like found in Polo Black) really creates an awesome aroma.

At first, the ocean accord is fresh and stimulating. Later, is does become more of a pure ambroxan scent.

The performance here is good, with solid sillage for the first few hours, before it settles. Yes, it is quite a bit like Polo Blue EDT and EDP, in the latter stage. But, I like the opening act enough to give it a spot on this list. Polo Deep Blue Review

Best Fresh Sporty Ralph Lauren Scent

Ralph Lauren Polo Sport Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce– Polo Sport has become a classic cologne it its own right. Sometimes simple and clean is the best course of action when choosing a cologne and that’s what Polo Sport excels at.

I remember using this cologne when I was younger and how absolute fresh and invigorating a fragrance that it is.

Smelling this scent takes me back, and to me, really defines what a sporty fragrance should be. This was probably the best Polo fragrance in the 1990s.

Note: Dua has their own inspired by version of this, based on the 1990s formulation called, Endorphin.

It’s not too citrusy or too much of a light aquatic, rather, it blends all of these elements together to make something wonderful and upbeat.

Polo Sport takes so many different elements a does a wonderful job at blending them all together. The sharp and cool mint, the lovely lavender, the sunny citrus notes…all of which sit atop a layer of marine notes.

This has always been a very versatile fragrance and works well for teenagers to adults. My Polo Sport Review

Top Polo Fragrance for Summer

Ralph Lauren Polo Blue Eau de Parfum for Men, 4.2 Ounce– I replaced one of the Big Pony flanker fragrances on this list with Polo Blue because the former got discontinued.  Polo Blue itself has two options, the EDT and the eau de parfum.

I think the EDP version (linked above) is the more interesting and better performing of the choices, but either is a solid choice for guys.

To me, the EDP version is like the original EDT, but blended with elements of Acqua di Gio Profumo. It features a citrus note of bergamot to go along with herbal spices including basil and cardamom. Add to that a smooth suede and aquatic sea notes.

The other option, the EDT version is more of an aquatic, its lighter and has notes of juicy melon and cucumber leading the way. Again, I like either option. The EDT is the better seller, but the EDP is the better performer, in my opinion.

Top Classic Ralph Lauren Fragrance

Polo by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau de Toilette Natural Spray, 4-Fluid Ounce– The original, the classic. Polo is a fantastic and woodsy aromatic for the gentleman who is bold and like to stand out.

It starts out quite dry with leather and pine notes and then transitions into a rich tobacco and patchouli blend that is smoky and intriguing.

An absolute monster in terms of sillage and performance. There’s a reason it has been so loved for over 40 years.

It such a great blend and starts to check off boxes throughout. Herbal. Woodsy. Spicy. A very thorough scent and one which completely goes against the grain of most of the most popular colognes of today’s era.

Again, not for everyone, but Polo is an absolute signature scent for the right man.  My Full Review

polo

Pros

  • Classic and masculine scent
  • Still has great performance

Cons

  • Better Suited for Older Guys

Most Underrated Cologne by Ralph Lauren

Safari by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau De Toilette Natural Spray, 4.2 Ounce– Safari is a scent that one must use caution with, as it can be very strong.

However, it is also a delightfully masculine smell with a sweetness that many other fragrances lack. The main thrust of it is an outdoorsy, green herbal plant and woods mixture.

However, that’s only the beginning as Safari is a complex, and unique aroma. It’s masculine but tempered by citrus and floral notes.

Try to find an older bottle, as from what I understand it has been reformulated…and not for the better. Still, the original Safari is a legend.

Pros

  • Unique
  • Beautiful Complex Composition

Cons

  • Another one for a more mature man

gold blend review

5 Fragrances that Smell Similar to CK One

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CK One was one of the most dominant, if not the very pinnacle of ubiquity of fragrances during the 1990s. For those of you not old enough to remember, this Calvin Klein perfume was absolutely everywhere, and is basically ingrained in our collective memories.

Surprisingly, it wasn’t completely copied to death, sure alternatives existed but nothing was exactly the same. In this post, I want to present five fragrances that smell comparable to CK One.

Fragrances that are Like CK One

Inspired Similarities

#1 by Dua Brand– I hadn’t found a perfume that attempted to recreate the CK One formula, that was a $5-10 and terrible rendition of it. Now, I haven’t tried this one out, but I’ve bought a bunch of perfumes from Dua in the past, that have tried to match designer scents and they were great.

CK One isn’t an overly complicated formula, so, this shouldn’t be an exception to Dua’s great track record.

That opening with the lemon, tea, papaya, and other notes is there. So is everything else that the original 90s formula of CK One had. If they got it even 85% percent correct this should be a good substitute.

Whether or not its worthwhile, may depend on the price of the Calvin Klein fragrance at the time that you want to purchase.

The Best Alternative

Azzaro Chrome Eau de Toilette – Cologne for Men– Chrome opens up with lemon, pineapple, and neroli. The citrus and floral blend of Chrome certainly does favor CK One and creates a compelling alternative scent.

This Azzaro does lean much more to the masculine end of things, versus being a pure unisex like the CK perfume. What I love about Azzaro is how bright and upbeat it feels. Similar style, yet completely unique.

The neroli gets paired with jasmine and you start to get more of a soapy quality. However, there is rosemary for the herbal aspect and a metallic smelling finish.

These two definitely have their distinctions but Chrome is going to give you the closest experience and you might even prefer it to One. Chrome Review

Ferrari Floral

Ferrari Scuderia Red Eau De Toilette Spray, 4.2 oz– Scuderia Red has a similar scent profile to that of CK One. However, I prefer the Calvin Klein versus this.

That being said, it can indeed be a cheaper option and is overall a pretty good fragrance. It opens up with clean and juicy citrus notes, mainly orange, with lemon verbena. This Ferrari leans greater to the floral side of things versus our target, as it has a very prominent jasmine note.

The performance is decent, I pulled 6-7 hours from this one during my testing of it a few years back. Closer to the six hour mark, mostly. Again, not an exact comparable of One, but it can provide a nice experience for a low price. Scuderia Red Review

A Bluer Generic 

Cuba Blue by Cuba for Men – 3.4 Ounce EDT Spray– So, Cuba Blue has some similarities to CK One (mainly in the base), but I’d say it’s more like a mix of Chrome and Set Sail Martinique. A sort of metallic citrus opening act, with a musky/creamy dry down.

A cheaper freshie. The wood and musk is what rings closest in my mind to One, with the citrus notes favoring the other two aforementioned scents. Cuba Blue isn’t among my favorite of the Cuba line of colognes, more in the middle of the pack.

This one is stupid cheap, but not going to provide you an exact copy of the Calvin Klein. Honestly, it’d be my last pick from the four of these options. Though, it fits the overall target style.

Best Similar and Cheaper Option

Paco by Paco Rabanne for Men – 3.3 oz EDT Spray– As of publishing, you can pick up a bottle of this Paco Rabanne cologne for around $30. To me, this is the best value for those looking to replicate CK One. Cheaper than both One and Chrome…and strikes a similar chord.

The citrus is there, though, this isn’t the exact same formula as CK One. Instead, Paco is going to give you a greener and woodier heart, with a more masculine vibe. Though, you still get jasmine and tea, at about the same level.

Fresh, smoother than One, and with a greater use of earthy aromas. The performance is pretty good, but not amazing, and not really a marathon runner. It’s from the same era as our target and that really comes through during the wear.

Dior Sauvage EDT vs. Elixir

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Sauvage is a line that keeps printing money for Dior, and so, they’re obviously going to keep putting out new flankers for the foreseeable future. The latest, is Sauvage Elixir, an expensive and more concentrated take on the name. It’s enjoying early success, but how does this new fragrance compare to the original EDT. In this post, I will compare each in a variety of categories, before declaring an ultimate winner.

Sauvage Elixir or EDT? Tale of the Tape

Sauvage EDT

Notes include: Bergamot, Ambroxan, Sichuan Pepper, lavender, pink pepper, and more

Click here to try: Sauvage by Chrisitan Dior Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

Read my review: Sauvage EDT Review

Sauvage Elixir

Notes include: grapefruit, wood, lavender, nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, patchouli, vetiver

Click here to try: Sauvage Elixir at Macy’s

Read my review: Sauvage Elixir

Opening

Sauvage EDT starts off sharp with the citrus bergamot and Sichuan pepper notes out in full force. This is joined by that lavender note that is found across the Sauvage offerings. It’s intense and not all that great to my nose, especially when ambroxan gets thrown into the mix.

It does settle down and become more enjoyable and smooth. However, I’m not a fan of the pepper and bergamot combination. The lavender and ambroxan are nicer when they take the lead, as is the now faded citrus note.

Meanwhile, Elixir opens up with a lot of spice. Though, it doesn’t use the Sichuan pepper. Instead, you get cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom with a much lighter citrus note in grapefruit. This blend is wonderful and intense without the same sharpness.

The next phase will feature more of the lavender and some sweetness from licorice and amber. Sauvage Elixir is spicy, woody, with enough sweetness to keep it interesting. The licorice is a great addition to the composition, which helps this one stand out from the other Dior offerings. 

Which is better? Elixir. This newer concentration is just all around more balanced and pleasant to smell upon the initial spray. It is stronger while simultaneously being more tolerable. 

Edge: Elixir

Projection

The original Sauvage always had a strong sillage starting out and wasn’t ever weak at projecting. It does moderate after, but the EDT isn’t exactly a light cologne.

When compared to Elixir, the EDT is no match. Elixir has a very powerful ability to project and will be noticed throughout the entirety of the wear. Dior didn’t skimp out on the quality with this new release and it easily takes this category.

Elixir is one of the loudest mainstream fragrances out there and has a great ability to leave a scent trail in your wake. EDT definitely won’t be a disappointment, it can’t keep up with the heavier concentration of Elixir.

Edge: Elixir

Longevity

With Sauvage EDT, it lasts about 6-7 hours on my skin when it is warm and the humidity is higher. When it’s colder, I can get about 8-9 hours of wear from it. Some people get better performance than I do, but that’s been a consistent outcome for me.

Sauvage Elixir goes a lot longer than the EDT version. It really is a much more concentrated fragrance. I called it 12+ hours in my review, but it seems to go well beyond that 12 hour mark, during my testing of it.

Update: Even coming back to newer batches of EDT, it still hits that 6-8 hour range mostly. Elixir still goes heavy into the over 12 hour range without issue. It’s a beast as keeping things going.

Edge: Elixir

Versatility

Here’s where I think the EDT may have an edge over Elixir. For one, the EDT can venture into the summer months a lot better than Elixir can. Neither is a summertime fragrance, but the EDT won’t be overbearing in the heat, like Elixir.

Secondly, I think that the EDT can fit a wider spectrum of age range. Not many teens are going to be willing or able to rock the more mature Elixir, but they can and do wear the EDT version. 

Elixir is the more mature, but it’s not really a formal wear. Daily wear and more well put together, but I think the EDT could fit for a wider demographic.

So, the edge really comes down to a wider climate range, age range, and just overall versatility. Not to say Elixir is limited, it isn’t, just that Sauvage EDT fits a lot of situations.

Edge: Sauvage EDT

Overall Scent

Sauvage EDT is a perpetual best seller. To me, it’s become just a decent scent. Sure, it kicked off a whole trend in the industry, but fragrances like Luna Rossa Carbon have done the concept better. Also, the later Sauvage EDP and Parfum were also greater than the original.

That being said, I do like the middle and final acts of the EDT a lot better than how it opens. The performance is solid and it’s still an easy to wear crowd pleaser. For many guys, it’ll do just fine.

However, in this contest Sauvage Elixir is the clear winner. It smells better, outperforms, and presents a unique take on the DNA of this line.

The lavender, patchouli, and vetiver are the only commonalities in terms of notes versus the other Sauvage colognes. The structure of spice, citrus, and woods holds true…but they substitute newer ingredients.

Elixir has a great mix of spices. The cinnamon and nutmeg just work amazingly well within the composition. The lavender feels more natural, the amber smoother, and the licorice note adds a further distinct character.

Sauvage Elixir is easily better than the EDT. The price is where a lot of people will draw the line. It’s not cheap, but if that’s not a concern go with Elixir. If you can, you might consider buying Elixir and something else that tries to copy Dior Sauvage for cheaper.

Winner: Sauvage Elixir

Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler

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Another sample cologne that I picked up recently was Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler. Now, I was already somewhat familiar with this fragrance, but seeing as I hadn’t smelled it in a long time, I didn’t want to write up a review post for it. So, I grabbed a sample with my last order and wanted to put together my full thoughts on this Mugler scent from the A*Men line.

What does A*Men Pure Malt Smell Like?

angel men pure malt review

Notes include: bergamot, patchouli, vanilla, cedar, amber, fruits, coffee bean, musk

Click here to try: Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler Eau De Toilette Spray (Limited Edition) for Men, 3.40 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Pure Malt really sets the stage. Man, is this a rich and enticing fragrance. It kind of reminds me of B*Men also by Thierry Mugler but way better with less spice and an enjoyable fruitiness.

I’ve been really digging scents that feature a boozy type of aroma, and Pure Malt is beautiful, like a fine whiskey. There is a warm sweetness in the same vein as Pure Havane but with alcohol in lieu of tobacco.

The start features the blend of fruits, vanilla, whiskey, and a bit of the patchouli. The patchouli comes through to give it a warm bakery feeling, like it does in so many women’s perfumes. However here, it just helps to shape the alcoholic sweetness.

As the scent wears on, I feel that it becomes even better than the opening act. The berry-like fruits begin to fully emerge and give the cologne a distinctive feel. Nonetheless, they are only playing a supporting role at this stage.

However, Pure Malt never relinquishes its very masculine energy or fall into a trap of being too ambiguous. I found myself constantly trying to get a whiff of this lovely gourmand scent throughout the night that I was wearing it. It was just enjoyable and pleasant to wear.

Finally, the latter stages are smooth, creamy, warm, woody, with its underlying sweetness still kicking around. Vanilla, tonka bean, and vague hints of coffee are swirling around a base of cedar and malt.

The coffee bean adds a nice touch, as you can only pick up its familiar scent, at certain times during the wear. Pure Malt is just unique and plain delicious to the senses.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, Pure Malt is fairly strong, but not crazy so. You’ll notice that it’s there and so will other people around you but it shouldn’t choke anyone out unless you went overboard.

I actually got good longevity with this, it’s hard to remember the details of when I applied and when it faded last night but I’d say 6-8 hours or thereabouts. Update: After wearing this for a while, it seems like 7 hours is pretty standard, for Pure Malt’s longevity. Not a monster performer, but still quite enough.

Pure Malt is yet another cold weather gem. Seriously, the one thing that might hold me back from buying a larger bottle is that I already have so many ‘go-to’s’ during the cooler months of the year…it’s starting to get ridiculous. But yeah, during the summer months, this wouldn’t be a wise choice.

This is quite a masculine cologne and while I like it, it seems that women had mixed feelings about it while I had it on. Most liked it, but weren’t in love with it. It’s funny because I really liked wearing this stuff, so this is one, I probably won’t account for others’ opinions.

Another update: the more that I’ve worn this, the more the positive reactions, outweigh the negative or indifferent. There are times, where this gets an insane number of complements, while out on the town.

I don’t know that I’d wear this to an office. It’s more of a casual, date night, or evening out kind of scent. It does contain those strong alcoholic notes, which you might not want to smell like whiskey, while at work. Your call, though.

Overall Impression of Pure Malt

Overall, would I rate Pure Malt a buy? Yes, I think it’s great but I don’t think it’d be for everyone. It can be quite pricey, it is limited by the climate you live in, not for those who don’t like the smell of malt (obviously), etc.

On the other hand, this is a very well done entry from Thierry Mugler and is at least worth a try for a lot of guys.

The whole thing is warm, sweet, and gourmand. Angel Men Pure Malt is an experience all its own and probably one of the best colognes on the market. It’s application is niche, but it does things so utterly well, that I want to spray it on more and more.

There’s just so much going on here, and when it came out, there really wasn’t too much out there that was quite like it.

I doubt it’ll be what you’re looking for in a daily wear, but as a secondary option you break out on occasion, this is a definite yes.

2023 Update: Pure Malt has been discontinued for a while now. So, if you’re looking for this original formulation, you’re going to have to find an old bottle online or try finding a close approximation. The Dua Brand has one available, that I haven’t tried.

7 Best David Beckham Colognes for Men

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David Beckham was one of the most popular athletes on the planet for many years. One of his side ventures is creating fragrances along with his wife Victoria, for both men and women. The men’s line offers some very inexpensive choice for guys on a budget and it contains some quite attractive colognes for often under $20. For this list, I have selected seven of what I feel to be the best scents of the lineup.

What are the Best Smelling David Beckham Colognes?

Most Popular Beckham Fragrance

David Beckham Instinct Cologne Spray for Men, 2.5 Fluid Ounce
A light and great blend of citrus and spice notes. Develops into a warm fragrance that is quite appealing for the price. Notes include bergamot, orange, amber, patchouli, pimento.

The opening is definitely a celebration of the citrus notes (bergamot and orange) which are accompanied by some great and somewhat spicy ‘earthy’ aromas. Instinct is a shower fresh sort of fragrance from the start and a while into the wear, amber and vetiver, which gives it a dry feeling.

This is warm woods, citrus, with spicy elements. Very nice and actually fairly unique versus so many other colognes in this price range. Full Review of Instinct

instinct

Smooth Option for Winter

Intimately Beckham By Beckham For Men, Eau De Toilette Spray, 2.5-Ounce Bottle
A bit sweet, smooth, with a hint of spice and a woodsy heart. It’s almost unisex in its presentation and its longevity can be an issue, though, its still a very nice scent.

Intimately Beckham features notes of sandalwood, amber, star anise, and bergamot among others. To me, feels best to be worn in the autumn or winter months.

It has a soft, somewhat powdery warmth, and fresh spice from the star anise and nutmeg notes. While a ‘cheapie’, this Beckham cologne can work well in a variety of situations, including dressed up for an evening. The sandalwood adds a layer of clean smoothness. Review

intimately-beckham-men-edt-50ml-30003492-0-1321522359000

Best Summer Scent by Beckham

The Essence– The Essence is a very clean and great use of grapefruit and pineapple notes, up top. Also, for the price, this is one of the Beckham fragrances which give me very solid performance while I was testing it out.

Essence is best worn in the spring/summer months, and features: lavender, tonka bean, and some greenish violet leaf. Not too complex of a fragrance, but one that smells good, and is easy to wear. The dry down is less of the citrus and starts to stray more towards an earthy woods scent.

I could get about six hour of wear from The Essence on my skin. I found this one to be quite enjoyable, and one that, you could thrown on any day. The Essence Review

Best Aquatic/Sport Fragrance

Beckham Signature By Beckham For Men Edt Spray 2.5 Oz
Another citrus blend, this one doesn’t have the same spiciness as instinct and has more of a casual/playful vibe to it. Signature is the Beckham line’s, sporty aquatic fragrance. Notes include: watermelon, amber, juniper berry, moss, and cypress.

It starts off with a light and juicy watermelon note that is paired with the familiar oceanic saltiness found in fragrances within the genre. It’s smooth and soapy fresh with some underlying woody notes.

A very light scent overall, sort of reminds me of one of the Ferrari colognes, with the watermelon note. Not going to be a powerhouse, but one you can spray on to freshen up and hang out with in casual situations.

signature

Top Spicy Cologne for Him

David Beckham Homme Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 2.5 Ounce
A fresh scent that has a spicy and woody profile with notes like ginger and sichuan pepper leading the way. Underlying that are citrus notes, like grapefruit, which brightens up the composition and is joined by a clean musk and patchouli accord.

David Beckham Homme is a wonderful smelling fragrance with the highlight in my mind being the wood notes and the whiffs of leather that come about during the wear. This one is more on the masculine end and is refreshing while having a moderate sillage. A very nice scent for the price point.

dbhomme

Under the Radar Fresh

David Beckham Inspired By Respect By David Beckham for Men – 3 Oz Edt Spray, 3 Oz– It seems like the newer releases are becoming pretty sparse and they can be difficult to find. Inspired by Respect flew under the radar for me, since its release a few years back.

The price for bottles seems a little high, but I wanted to put it on the list, because it is one of Beckham’s nicer colognes.

Inspired opens up with a clean citrus blend that has a nice dose of lavender. Pretty familiar, but the pineapple note helps to set it apart. The juiciness gives it a water/semi-aquatic profile.

The dry down is woody and a bit of light spice, with the fruit notes still lingering. Not super complex, but worth a shot, if you can get an inexpensive bottle.

Top Newer Release

Refined Woods by David Beckham– After a while of not putting out much, Beckham fragrances have introduced a line of four eau de parfums to the mix. So, while Refined Woods is the one that I’ve experienced, I haven’t gotten to the others…nonetheless, Refined Woods is a very nice cologne.

Basically, these are available in the UK and most of Europe. I want to try Amber Breeze, as that one sounds like it might be a good pick up, also.

The copy describes this colognes like this: “This warm and sensual scent is a celebration of travel and discovery, where the journey is the reward.”

Anyway, refined woods gives you a clean and fresh blend of powdery/creamy notes (tonka bean and orris root) with the usual lavender and a woody base. Up top the fresh spice will be a sage and light cardamom, so things have some energy early on.

The dry down will be woodier, slightly sweeter, a nice use of the vetiver and cedar.

Not a powerful fragrance, nothing super ‘unique’, but honestly…it smells very good for the price which is still quite affordable.