By Designer

Best Burberry Colognes for Men (2026)

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Burberry is a British luxury design house founded in 1856. Popular as a high-end clothing designer, its distinctive check patterns, are instantly recognizable around the world. In the fragrance market, Burberry has created some timeless scents for men and women, especially in the past decade.

Its men’s colognes are always among the best sellers within the industry and for good reason, they smell fantastic.

In this post, I will cover information on the best smelling Burberry perfumes for men and what makes each of them special as a scent. Also check out: The Best Burberry Perfumes for Ladies

Favorite Burberry Fragrances for Him

 

Fragrance Best For Season Key Notes Longevity Sillage Occasion Our Pick For
Burberry Brit Daily casual wear Fall Winter Ginger, Nutmeg, Cedar, Tonka Bean ~8 hrs
 
 
 
 
 
Moderate
 Everyday, Evening 🏅 Best Everyday Burberry
Burberry London Evening & date night Fall, winter Tobacco, Leather, Cinnamon, Port Wine ~7 hrs
 
 
 
 
 
Strong
 Date Night, Evening Out 🔥 Most Masculine
Burberry Touch Versatile daily signature Year-Round Pepper, Violet Leaf, Tonka Bean, Musk ~7 hrs
 
 
 
 
 
Moderate
 Office, Daytime, Casual ⭐ Most Underrated
Burberry for Men Mature, refined daily wear Year-Round Mint, Cedar, Amber, Sandalwood, Lavender ~7-8 hrs
 
 
 
 
 
Moderate
 Skews younger, Any Occasion 🎯 Retro Entry Level
The Beat Fresh casual outdoor wear Spring Fall Pepper, Lemon, Vetiver, Cedar ~6 hrs
 
 
 
 
 
Moderate
 Casual, Daytime

🌿 Most Unique

discontinued
Mr. Burberry Indigo  Fresh, aquatic everyday Spring Summer Mint, Rosemary, Sage, Amber, Citrus ~6 hrs
 
 
 
 
 
Moderate
 Casual, Daytime, Office

☀️ Best for Warmer Weather

discontinued
Hero EDT Crowd-pleasing versatile pick Spring Fall Juniper, Cardamom,  Vetiver ~7-8 hrs
 
 
 
 
 
Moderate
 Casual, Date, Office 🦸 Best Hero Release
Hero Parfum Long-lasting cold weather wear Fall Winter Cedar, Amyris, Cypriol Oil ~10 hrs
 
 
 
 
 
Heavy
 Evening, Date Night, Cold Weather 💪 Best Longevity

Longevity and sillage are based on personal wear testing. Results may vary by skin type and temperature.

Powdery Rose and Spice

Fragrance: BURBERRY Brit for Men Eau de Toilette, 1.7 fl. oz

Notes include: wild roses, tonka bean, green mandarin, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, cedar

Season: autumn, winter, early spring

Quick Verdict: Brit is an easy to wear fresh and spicy floral fragrance with decent staying power and a lovely powdery finish.

Write Up:

Burberry Brit for Men is a super fresh and modern cologne. It has green outdoorsy elements blended with spice and a powdery finish. The invigorating spice is formed by the inclusion of ginger and nutmeg.

So, it isn’t a heavy animalistic kind of spice, but one that is upbeat and refined.

All of the notes in this cologne share the stage, and never seem to overpower one another, for too long. So, while there is a rose note, it remains subdued and adds to the overall composition.

It opens up with its spicier notes with a light mandarin orange note. Ginger, nutmeg, and warm cardamom really provide a great freshness.

As it dries down, you will get more of a ‘green’ outdoorsy aroma with its cedar base, and a smooth powdery smell from the rose and tonka bean combo.

The sillage is in the range of moderate, but towards the light side of things. I get around 8 hours of wear, from this cologne.

Brit smells very good and is best in the colder parts of the year. I love to wear this during the crisp evening nights, when I want to be low key, but can still grab attention when someone is close enough. It is clean and a great blend of spicy elements and powdery floral aromas.

Fragrance Score: 7.9/10  (Read My Full Brit Review)

Pros: Clean, easy to wear, I’ve always gotten around 8 hours of wear with Brit.

Cons: Not the one to go with if you dislike powdery scents.

Masculine Tobacco Woods

london

Fragrance: BURBERRY London for Men Eau de Toilette , 1.7 fl. oz

Notes include: bergamot, cinnamon, pepper, lavender, port wine, mimosa, moss, tobacco leaf, leather

Season: autumn, winter

Quick Verdict: An absolute classic from the brand. London is rich and bold. A fragrance that I personally wore for a long time.

Write Up:

London was my first Burberry cologne and its woody fragrance is probably the most masculine of the lot. Its base notes include mimosa, leather, tobacco, cinnamon leaves, and lavender.

This fragrance is probably best served as an evening wear option because of its sensual appeal. However, I used to daily wear this seasonally, back in college. Just with lighter sprays.

Like Brit, London is a colder weather scent. Although, I prefer to wear this during nights in autumn, versus winter for Brit. If Brit is fresh and green, London is deep and powerful.

While it has that nice spice and tobacco aroma, London still has its sweet side to prevent it from going too far into one-sidedness.

London opens up, at its spiciest, with that tobacco note surrounded by both pepper and cinnamon leaf. It also features a port wine ingredient at the top, to give the scent, an ever so slight booziness.

It can be very dry and earthy at times, with a certain masculine ruggedness. It has its refinement along with a wild undercurrent. The most prominent notes are the tobacco, cinnamon, and leather notes. Great stuff.

London starts off with a strong sillage, but ends up being pretty moderate. The longevity is good and this one is still so enjoyable to me, after all these years.  

Also see: Burberry Brit vs London Comparison

Fragrance Score: 8.1/10  (Read: Burberry London Review )

Pros: Great spicy wear for the colder weather.

Cons: Can lean more toward being an evening wear. Some might not like it’s opening intensity.

 

A Touching Favorite

burberry touch m

Fragrance: BURBERRY Touch for Men Eau de Toilette, 3.3 oz 

Notes include: violet leaf, pepper, musk, tonka bean

Season: spring, summer, autumn

Quick Verdict: Touch is clean with hints of spice and a light soap-like aroma, at times. Not too heavy and a gem for daytime.

Write Up:

Sexy and elegant are probably the two best words to describe Burberry Touch. It has a clean aroma highlighted by pepper and violet leaf. It’s sweet yet spicy and also has a creamy/powdery feeling just underneath it all.

The pepper spice, is most pronounced in the opening bit of time, much like in Burberry London.

During the dry down period, tonka bean and musk join up to give Touch a bit more character. It’s almost too simple in how this cologne presents itself and the changes are so subtle at times, that you almost cannot detect a difference.

Touch is a very versatile fragrance that is suitable for a wide variety of occasions and weather conditions. Really underrated stuff. Touch is a clean fragrance and even while being simple, is still unique from so many other colognes out on the market.

The latter stages, really give me a clean soapy/body wash sort of feeling, but more upscale than the average soap.

I cannot even think of one that smells quite like Burberry Touch, even after almost two decades since its release.

The sillage here, isn’t too strong, but the longevity is still quite good. This could easily be a daily wear or signature scent for guys, in the daytime.

Fragrance Score: No Full Review

Pros: Quite different from the rest of the lineup.

Cons: Violet leaf can get on my nerves, sometimes. As such, this one isn’t always one that I wanted to have on.

 

 

Cooling Namesake

best burberry cologne

Fragrance: BURBERRY for Men Eau de Toilette, 3.3 fl.oz 

Notes include: mint, amber, sandalwood, lavender, cedar

Season: autumn, spring

Quick Verdict: The 1990s namesake fragrance with a crisp woody aroma. Inexpensive and very wearable.

Write Up:

Burberry cologne is the titular house fragrance from this design company. It also happens to be one of my favorite to wear on this list.

Burberry for Men isn’t as in your face as many other colognes on the market, but it allows it’s striking and refined aroma speak for itself.

It features a cool mint note, that provides that familiar fresh spice on top of a smooth sandalwood, and embedded within a warm amber. It is an interesting play between warmth and cold, throughout the wear.

This is all solidified by a smooth trio of sandalwood, lavender, and cedar. This forms the base of Burberry for Men and adds that woody masculine layer.

The mint, cedar, and amber are the stars at the beginning of the wear. The amber is warm, the mint is cold, and you get a dry freshness of the cedar wood. The bergamot citrus note, is lighter than that main trio, but does add a nice extra element into the mix.

Burberry for Men is a great option for a daily wear scent. I picked up another small bottle, some months back, and it’s still got good performance. Plus, you can usually find a full bottle at a discount from the retail price.

This has a more mature character and a moderate sillage. I’ve always felt that I could wear Burberry anywhere and it be an appropriate cologne for that occasion. It’s woody, fresh, and an intriguing fragrance that I always love catching a whiff of.  

Also see: Burberry for Men vs Brit Comparison

Fragrance Score: 7.8/10 (My review)

Pros: Enjoyable scent that is woody and cooling, which can serve as an entry level fragrance from the brand.

Cons: Less complex, not the same as more modern colognes on the market

 

Spiced Beats

Fragrance: BURBERRY The Beat Eau De Toilette for Men, 3.4 Fl. oz.

Notes include: lemon, pepper, cedar, vetiver

Season: year round (not the best on very cold days)

Quick Verdict: A retro fragrance that is discontinued, but well worth a try on the secondary market, if not too expensive.

Write Up:

The Beat is highly fresh and sharp fragrance that is propelled forward by its great pepper note. This is joined by lemon to create quite an interesting pairing.

While simple, The Beat evolves, and eventually reveals a woody base that is dotted by violet, to add a floral element.

This is probably the most unique of the colognes featured on this list. While not overpowering, it has a solid sillage and longevity, and can fit in well as an everyday wear.

The Beat is dry and outdoorsy with that juicy lemon to give it a sharp clean balance. The pepper spice at the beginning can be pretty intense at times, but the dry down with the cool vetiver is a nice change of pace.

At times, in the middle of the wear, it can be sweeter rather than spicy. Then, when the vetiver and cedar fully kick in, it is a fresh and dry woodsy type of smell. The Beat is a good choice for casual daily wear, for most of the year.

It’s not really a nightlife scent at all, just a nice and rather simple sort of fragrance. It’s opening is pretty strong, but it does calm itself down, and has a decent but not amazing longevity.

Fragrance Score: No Full Review

Pros: A slightly sweet gem, that was not too complicated but had a awesome aroma.

Cons: Discontinued.

 

The Best Mr. Burberry

Fragrance: Mr Burberry Indigo

Notes include: blackcurrant, violet leaf, spearmint, lemon, sage, rosemary, white musk, oak moss, amber, driftwood

Season: spring, summer

Quick Verdict: A forgotten cologne that shined among a rather dull line of flankers.

Write Up:

The Mr. Burberry series was pretty much a complete miss for me, until I tried Indigo. The EDP version of Mr. Burberry smelled really good but the performance was terrible. 

This series is no longer being produced, but this was the highlight.

Indigo doesn’t have insane performance, but it lasts much better on my skin with a still moderate sillage. It’s sort of got a combination between the aroma of the others in the series, mixed with Acqua di Gio, and a few other colognes.

It’s fresh, herbal, somewhat aquatic with an amber base. It opens up with the citrus coming through, that is paired with mostly the mint and rosemary notes. Then, sage will take over for the rosemary. Green while being juicy with the top fruits.

It’s not my favorite release from Burberry, but Mr Burberry Indigo was probably their best men’s release of that five year stretch. 

Fragrance Score: 7.5/10  (My Full Review)

Pros: Minty and herbal scent with an Acqua di Gio style.

Cons: Performance was okay, not great. Discontinued.

 

A New Hero

Fragrance: Hero EDT by Burberry

Notes include: cedar, bergamot, juniper, black pepper

Season: Anytime outside of high summer or depths of winter.

Quick Verdict: After a ton of flanker releases on this formula, Hero EDT still has a likeable and more wearable quality versus its more concentrated followers.

Write Up:

The EDP version is also pretty interesting, with some nice smoky touches. It’s almost a toss up for me at times, between these two, but I’ll go with Hero EDT. The more time I spent with each, the more I preferred EDT.

I still need to grab some of this Burberry release for additional testing. But, from my experience with it thus far, it’s a very nice release from the brand.

Update: I bought a travel size and it is very likeable and super versatile, as a daily wear. It’s one of their best releases in 5+ years.

It’s fresh and woody, but not completely overpowering with the cedar note. Gives you a simple clean, that can be worn almost anytime. The bergamot citrus top, hangs around underneath the cedar for a long while, and gives Hero a spectacular brightness.

Juniper and some pepper spice come through for an aromatic finish. The pepper is noticeable at first, but fades rather quickly. Performance is a bit above average, not spectacular. 

Here’s an ‘inspired by’ cheaper alternative from The Dua Brand: Lionheart

Fragrance Score: 7.8/10 (Hero EDT Review)

Pros: Smells nice, versatile. 

Cons: Not super complex or high performing

 

The Next Best Hero

Fragrance: Hero Parfum by Burberry 

Notes include: cedar, amyris, cypriol oil

Season: autumn, winter

Quick Verdict: Long lasting edition of Hero with a focus on the cedar note and it brings an earthiness to the formula.

Write Up:

Updating here, I still like the EDT the best so far from the Burberry Hero line. However, I like the newer Parfum more than the EDP, and it deserves a spot on the list.

Update 2: I also like this version better than Parfum Intense.

Some of you, may prefer this. Up top it’s earthy, woody, and balsamic. This is a very cedar heavy fragrance with a dry feeling throughout the wear. Fresh with spices and even some moments where you get a bit of a powder coming through.

Not a super powerful fragrance, but it gets the job done with its projection. Beyond that, Hero Parfum also lasted over ten hours on my skin, when I’ve tested it out.

There haven’t been too many releases from Burberry as of late, but this is a good one. Just not for everybody.

Fragrance Score: No Full Review   (Comparison: Hero EDP vs. Parfum)

Pros: Fresh, earthy and a bit powdery versus just being a straight cedarwood bomb.

Cons: Not as mass appealing as EDT.  

 

Burberry Men’s Fragrance FAQ

What is the best Burberry cologne for men?

Personally, I think London is the top pick, from the older releases. Nowadays, they’re focusing on Hero as a series. I’d go with Hero EDT, maybe Parfum (but the new 2026 Elixir looks very interesting). 

How long does Burberry Brit last?

I’ve always gotten around 8 hours of wear with Brit for Men. It’s not super noticeable at that stage, but it still is hanging around as a skin scent.

Which Burberry cologne is best for winter/summer/office/date night?

Tougher to say, now that their lineup of men’s fragrances is basically just the Hero line. For winter, I’d go London or Hero Parfum. Summer: Mr. Burberry Indigo or The Beat (if you can find them). Office: Hero EDT or Brit. Date Night: One of the Hero fragrances or London.

What does Burberry Hero smell like?

Different releases under this title have different scents. Cedar is the central theme of the series. EDT is lighter and has some citrus to help its mass appeal. While later entries go even drier with the woods or start to introduce leather. Heavier, more niche appeal.

Is Burberry a luxury fragrance brand?

Burberry has luxury offerings with its unisex releases. Scents like the new Hero Elixir are more expensive with a heavier concentration and a style that’s more like a niche fragrance. While there are older scents like London, Brit, and Burberry for men that are much more affordable. Lineups change and some scents get discontinued or even re-released.

 

 

Sauvage EDT by Christian Dior

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In the world of fragrance, it is often an exciting event when Christian Dior releases a new cologne for men. After all, this is a brand which has come out with some absolutely amazing scents in the past and has a long history of creating winners for guy’s who enjoy a sophisticated scent.

In 2015, they released a new fragrance, Sauvage, which features an ad campaign starring Johnny Depp. Since then, this fragrance has become an absolute powerhouse in the world of men’s colognes.

Sauvage is super popular and a constant best seller (literally became the first men’s fragrance to be number one worldwide, outselling even all ladies’ perfumes) . The question is, is it worth it?

In this post, I want to give some of my thoughts about this new cologne and whether or not it lives up to the name of Dior. How does it smell? What are the notes? Does it last long? How’s the sillage? Is it actually something one should buy?

🌍 DIOR SAUVAGE — AT A GLANCE
Fragrance Family Fresh Aromatic Woody
Key Notes Bergamot, Ambroxan, Sichuan Pepper, Lavender, Pink Pepper
Season Spring Summer
Occasion Office, School, Casual, Dressed Up, Bar
Longevity 6–7 hrs typical, up to 8–9 hrs in winter
Sillage Moderate to fairly strong — noticeable without overpowering
Rating ★★★★☆ 8.1 / 10
Quick Verdict
A fresh, mass-appeal daily scent with a sharp bergamot opening, spicy pepper kick, and smooth ambroxan-lavender dry down. Very versatile and easy to wear, especially in warmer weather, with solid performance and broad appeal.

What does Dior Sauvage EDT Smell Like?

sauvage

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

Click here to try: Sauvage by Christian Dior Eau de Toilette for Men, 2 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

By now, one has probably seen the magazine adverts or the short ‘film’ starring Johnny Depp, in the media blitz before this fragrance’s release. This eau de toilette cologne is definitely a mass market affair.

However, that doesn’t mean that it is a terrible cologne. In fact, I rather enjoy the scent even it isn’t 100% unique in it’s scent or even if it can become a signature cologne for a guy.

2022 Update: Sauvage has become an absolute best seller in the world of men’s fragrance and has spawned seemingly endless imitators and somewhat similar scents (like: Dylan Blue)

Before we start, let’s see how Dior describes this eau de toilette: A radically fresh composition, dictated by a name that has the ring of a manifesto. That was the way François Demachy, Dior Perfumer-Creator, wanted it: raw and noble all at once. Natural ingredients, selected with extreme care, prevail in excessive doses. Radiant top notes burst with the juicy freshness of Reggio di Calabria bergamot. Ambroxan, derived from precious ambergris, unleashes a powerfully woody trail. Sauvage is an act of creation inspired by wide-open spaces. An ozone blue sky sprawled above a rocky landscape, white-hot beneath the desert sun. 

The composition is rather simplistic yet definitely delivers the masculine vibe that the designer was going for. The ambergris derivative , Ambroxan, is quite noticeable and gives Sauvage a solid foundation from which to present itself. It is clean, fresh, and inviting with a warm and spicy kick delivered by the Sichuan pepper note.

The opening features a very sharp bergamot note and lavender to go with that pepper kick. It is very similar to that of Luna Rossa Carbon, only that Prada fragrance doesn’t have the same level of citrus intensity in the start. I’ve done a post comparing these two colognes.

While Sauvage definitely has a sharp start, I feel like it gets smoother after some time has passed after application.

On my skin, the citrus subsides, after about 20 minutes of wear and I really start to get a noticeable ambroxan aroma. It is so well blended with the pepper, that some of the spicy edge is taken off of that note. However, the warm and smooth composition does have that solid spice throughout.

Sauvage is another cologne that strikes me as really fresh and sort of has that ‘right out of the shower’ vibe to it. The lavender note, which is found in so many soaps and fresheners, really adds to this feeling.

Lavender is one of the main differences between Sauvage and Luna Rossa Carbon, as it is much stronger in the latter than in this Dior scent.

The floral notes here are a bit underappreciated. Yes, the lavender is prominent in the composition, but there is also geranium and labdanum that are present in the background of Sauvage.

These help to support the outdoorsy, wide open spaces, vision that the designer was going for. They are pretty faint but they can come through in a whiff, if you’re familiar with how these notes smell.

 

While it is warm and has that underlying spice, there is a certain woodiness of cedar, which helps to further the raw masculinity which comes through in this scent. It is a very pleasant experience, though, it does draw reminders of other colognes I have smelt in the past.

So, I can’t really reward it points on a factor of uniqueness. A lot of that enveloping sort of feeling that comes with Sauvage, I think is due to the presence of pink pepper, especially in the dry down. It’s one of the main notes in something like Guess Seductive Homme, and I pick up on that pink pepper vibe with this Dior.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sauvage is a fragrance for the warmer months and it did very well on a hot day here. It seems like it should have been released before the summer season and not after because I don’t get a cold weather aura from it at all. That’s sort of odd considering how ‘warm’ it smells with the amber and pepper notes.

It has a moderate to fairly strong projection, in that it doesn’t overpower but it seemed to hold up fairly well on my skin for maybe 6-7 hours so the longevity is at least decent as well.

This is based of doing a few sprays for each wear, however, it can be overwhelming sometimes if you’re prone to wearing a lot of fragrance.

The opening act can indeed pack a punch. But, that is fairly short-lived and it becomes more moderated thereafter. Still, not a bad ability to leave a scent trail or just project off of the skin.

Update: Since I originally wrote this review, I have a lot more experience with Sauvage, and I do get much longer wear during the wintertime. Maybe bump that to 8-9 hours. Humidity, stifles its ability to last on my skin for its full capability.

Other folks report, having much better longevity with Sauvage than I do, and say it goes all day. Again, like every fragrance, it is going to depend on your own skin chemistry and how the cologne reacts with it on a particular day. For me, it’s just pretty good but not outstanding in how long it lasts.

Sauvage is actually a very versatile fragrance and I think that is one of the reasons that it has become so popular with the masses.

It’s something that could be worn to work or school (if you go light), but can be worn causally, dressed up, or even at the bar. It really has become ubiquitous at this point, but it does have so many uses that it’s completely understandable.

Lots of women do find this to be a sexy fragrance. I think it smells more ‘clean’ than anything sexy, but if members of the opposite sex are saying its sexy, I guess it is.

It’s pretty ubiquitous at this point, there are so many guys wearing it, and so many clones that it’s lost some of its appeal.

Overall Impression of Sauvage EDT

Overall, I think this is a very solid cologne but nothing all that special. I’ve never been a huge fan of wearing it, but I like it well enough. Dior Sauvage is too sharp for me at times, but then I catch a whiff and I rather like the ambroxan/citrus/lavender blend of the eau de toilette. I ‘get’ why people like it so much.

Though, as someone who reviews and wears a ton of different colognes, Sauvage just strikes me as kind of meh. However, if you want a cologne that is very versatile, has a wide fan base, and delivers good performance…Dior Sauvage EDT is a solid bet for the vast majority of guys. You won’t stand out, but you’ll get a lot of use out of a scent, with such a massive appeal.

Since the release of this original Sauvage, Dior has also released, the EDP and Parfum versions. In my opinion, they are both better than this one, Sauvage EDP being my personal favorite.

This version is very wearable and will provide a solid daily wear option for many guys. It’s not amazing, but it does an overall good job.

How Sauvage Compares to Similar Fragrances

YSL Y vs. Sauvage EDT– Comparing two popular ‘blueish’ fragrances. This time it’s Y from YSL to compare to the Dior best seller.

Dior Sauvage Parfum vs. EDT– Two variations of the Sauvage name, I personally prefer Parfum against the original. But, what are the differences?

 

Dior Sauvage FAQ’s

Which Dior Sauvage version is best? 

Everyone has their preferences with these fragrances, for me it’s: Sauvage EDP and Elixir. I think that the eau de parfum is the perfect blend of the original EDT formula. Not as sharp, smoother, but with a great dynamic.

Elixir is also great. However, it takes things in a different direction and not everyone will be into that formula. Anyway, here’s how I rank all of the Sauvage colognes: Dior Sauvage Ranked

Is Dior Sauvage good for everyday wear?

Yes, it’s a very versatile cologne. There are reasons that it’s a best seller and one of the main one’s is how it can fit with the style of so many people, in so many situations.

Is Dior Sauvage too common?

It’s been a best selling fragrance for over a decade. It’s been copied by almost every designer and anyone else who makes colognes. So, yes, it is very common. However, people still do like it and you should wear whatever you want to.

There won’t be much, if any pushback or negativity towards wearing it. Guess what? Most people like popular things.

Is Dior Sauvage better than Bleu de Chanel?

Which one? Sauvage EDT? No, I think the Bleu de Chanel fragrances are all better. Sauvage EDP? Now, you have a case. But, here’s how I ranked them: Sauvage vs. BdC vs. Aventus

 

Myslf Le Parfum vs. L’Absolu

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Myslf from YSL continues to expand its popularity among people with each of its successive releases. 2025 saw the release of the third cologne in the series, Myslf Absolu. With that being the case, I wanted to do a new comparison post between it and Le Parfum.

Which Myslf fragrance smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Myslf Le Parfum vs Absolu

Myslf Le Parfum

Notes include: black pepper, orange blossom, Bourbon vanilla, amber, patchouli, woods

Click here to try: YSL Myslf Le Parfum

Myslf L’Absolu

Notes include: ginger, bergamot, cardamom, orange blossom, woods, patchouli

Read my review: Absolu

Get Absolu: at Sephora

Opening

Myslf Le Parfum starts off fresh and sweet. There’s still a hint of bergamot present, but orange blossom really takes the lead in this version.

The orange blossom brings a bubblegum-like sweetness to the table, though the black pepper up top does a good job of balancing it out. You get a nice spicy kick without it being overwhelming.

There’s warmth here, and I’m picking up a fair bit of woods and patchouli right from the start as well.

Absolu starts off powerfully with ginger at the forefront, working alongside that familiar bergamot note. There’s a cool spiciness happening here that feels quite fresh, and the cardamom becomes more apparent after about 5 to 10 minutes.

The citrus burst at the start fades back, and the fragrance moves into a spicier floral combination featuring ginger, cardamom, and the signature orange blossom.

By now, the scent has grown warmer compared to that cooler opening vibe. It maintains a sparkling, somewhat sweet character. The spice notes have mellowed out and Absolu has settled into its floral center. Orange blossom, naturally.

Which is better? While, I do like what I get from Myslf Le Parfum at the start, the additional freshness and energy that Absolu brings to the table, is just better to me. I enjoy both, but one has a clear advantage.

Edge: Absolu

Projection

To me, both of these have close to the same level of projection. Very good ability to envelop the wearer and make itself known in a room. While also, not being an absolute beast.

So, in those terms they’re about equal. However, Le Parfum does have a denser and heavier feeling than does the fresher Absolu. Which can create the perception that it is the stronger of the two.

But, spraying each on a shirt and then walking away from it, I can detect them to about the same distance. Le Parfum does feel a bit more substantial, though.

Edge: Parfum

Longevity

The longevity of each of these for me sits at 9-10 hours of wear. I’ve been testing each of them and rotating between these Myslf fragrances and that’s what I consistently get. Both are better than EDP, while being equal to one another.

Edge: Push

Versatility

When it comes to seasons, Myslf Absolu basically works all year. I’d lean toward moderate to warmer weather with it. Just like before, avoid wearing this in peak summer heat.

It handles both day and night well. This is a polished floral cologne where the fresh spiciness really comes alive in the evening hours. That’s what sets it apart from the EDP. There’s more detail and refinement here.

It’s crowd-pleasing but has some edge to it. This could easily become someone’s go-to fragrance or even their only one.

Le Parfum follows a similar pattern. It outperforms the EDP and Absolu when it’s colder out, but doesn’t handle the heat quite as well. It’s not terrible in higher temperatures, but the others have the advantage there.

I think both are fine for nightlife or romantic occasions. They have more depth than your typical clean everyday scent.

Not too much distinction here. The temperature might have an effect on which you would wear. Maybe, give Parfum an edge as a more formal scent, but there’s much separation.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Ok, so overall which of these two YSL colognes do I like more after extensive testing?

I do personally rank both of them higher than the original eau de parfum release.

With Parfum, I think the quality improves and the longevity gives it an advantage when compared to the EDP. Much of that edge is removed when it’s put alongside Absolu.

The vanilla, amber, and orange blossom combination really shines in the later stages. Le Parfum goes through phases where it turns powdery, then shifts woodier, then becomes more of an amber-driven floral.

That opening is solid, but a step behind.

With Absolu, The ginger and cardamom elevate the overall blend significantly. I really like the sweetness and fresh spiciness that you get to go along with that central orange blossom note.

Even stacked up against Le Parfum, this one feels more accessible as a floral cologne for the average person, and it brings extra dimension to the orange blossom base.

For me, I think I’d rather have a bottle of Myslf Absolu around. Others, may prefer the darker and sometimes earthier floral blend of Le Parfum. Absolu is the safer blind buy. However, for a portion of people they are going to really love what Parfum brings to the table.

Winner: Absolu

Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif by Chanel

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Bleu de Chanel continues as a series, with the release of 2025’s L’Exclusif formula. Chanel is a lot more restrained with the number of flanker fragrances that they release versus other designers in this space.

I had to opportunity to get a free sample through a social media ad, in order to test and review Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is this BdC release, worth a try?

BdC L’Exclusif Overview

Notes include: cistus labdanum, sandalwood, amber

Click here to try: L’Exclusif at Macy’s

My Full Review

Here’s how Chanel describes it: Designed like an Extrait de Parfum, this intense ambery-aromatic fragrance features a spellbinding trail, making it the most mysterious of all the BLEU DE CHANEL interpretations. Composed by CHANEL In-House Perfumer Creator Olivier Polge, BLEU DE CHANEL L’EXCLUSIF is a true concentration of precious materials. Sandalwood, highlighted in all its glory, adds dimension. The enigmatic character of the scent manifests through notes of cistus labdanum. Finally, woody ambery notes bring contrast and vibrancy, resulting in a majestic expression that leaves a memorable impression and stays on skin as if magnetically drawn to it.

Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif opens up quite similar to other releases in the series. Mostly, it’s closer to Parfum than anything, but you also get plenty of the EDP influence as well.

Not surprising since Chanel hasn’t done any major overhauls to the main concept or came out with some entirely different BdC flanker.

So, expect the usual citrus impression of those other two in the series. Yet, it quickly loses any of the sharper qualities and actually smells fairly sweet to my nose, in that first half hour.

There’s an amber base to this that is apparent throughout the entirety of the wear. In the early stages, it does have a musky animalic aroma. It’s not super aggressive, but it is there.

After this point, we get darker with the character that this one puts out. The sandalwood comes out (along with some other generic woody notes, maybe?) A slight powder to go along with the leather tones and that muskiness (which begins to fade on my skin).

The back half really does start to give more of those leathery impressions. A smooth amber blend with a drier woody finish and resinous touches.

It’s deep and not a pure leather fragrance, but it seems like a back and forth between the various elements as we head into the finish. I’m not even sure if there is a leather note, seems more likely this is just all apart of the labdanum that they’ve used.

But, ultimately the amber and woods win out and everything else is just a vague vapor of what it was when it was at full strength.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The ability to project with this one is quite powerful. At least for 3-ish hours, on my skin. After that, it moderates, but I’m still smelling this one very easily well into the wear. It’s got some heft to it, but I didn’t think that it was too cloying or anything.

I always have gotten better longevity for whatever reason than most people out of BdC Parfum. That one actually sticks around on my skin for 10 hours. L’Exclusif matches that for me, but does it with more sustained power than 

This is the best performer thus far in the series, at least for me.

Seasonally, this is best used in autumn and winter. You could probably get away with it through early spring. I did spray it on for a warmer afternoon and wasn’t too enthusiastic about the results.

The EDT and EDP versions are better at being a year round wear. More so, the original.

L’Exclusif is very well put together, not as casual as EDT or EDP. Feels more like a nighttime wear while still versatile enough to pull double duty as a mature daily cologne. 

Within its seasonality, you could wear this pretty much anytime without issue. It’s going to work, but will probably skew more towards the late 20s and up crowd.

Overall Impressions of Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif

Overall, do I like L’Exclusive? I do like it. I don’t think that it overtakes Bleu EDP for me. But, I think it’s a better version of Parfum.

If nothing else, you’ll get some added depth and the performance is better.

I do really enjoy the opening act. That first hour or so is great. Smooth, some sweetness, the usual citrus notes, and everything is well-rounded. 

The rest of the way is still good, just not my absolute favorite. The leathery aspect to BdC L’Exclusif can get somewhat annoying to me. It’s grown on me after a few wears, but I wasn’t all that into it initially. 

On the whole, I actually do think that this is a worthwhile one to check out, and probably the second best in the series. It’s certainly not the cheapest of the line, so, some of you may want to sample this before committing to the whole bottle.

If you already have another Bleu, you probably won’t need this one too. A bit too redundant at this price point. Still, as a standalone L’Exclusif is another quality fragrance from Chanel.

Le Male Elixir Absolu vs. Ultra Male

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Le Male Elixir became a wildly popular flanker of the original Le Male and then JPG released the follow-up, Le Male Elixir Absolu. This series just keeps producing hits.

So today, I wanted to compare Absolu to another favorite fragrance from this line, Ultra Male. How do they compare? Which smells better? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Ultra Male vs. Le Male Elixir Absolu

Ultra Male

Notes include: vanilla, pear, amber, woods, cinnamon, cumin, sage, lavender, mint

Read my review: Ultra Male

Click here to try: Ultra 

Elixir Absolu

Notes include: lavender, tonka bean, plum

Click here to try: Le Male Elixir Absolu

Opening

Ultra Male is noticeably missing the same level of powdery quality as the original Le Male and has a sugary sweetness like Elixir. But with an added pear note.

What it does have is a burst of initial spice, mainly from the cinnamon note. Pear, vanilla, and light citrus round it out and give it a bubble gum-like aroma.

It packs a punch and is thoroughly enjoyable.

Elixir Absolu drops the mint note from the original Elixir. Instead, you get plenty of lavender with some warmer spice and the new addition of a plum note.

The plum actually isn’t too heavy at the start for me. It’s also less tart and sweeter than I expected.

I’m not sure what the spice is here. Kind of smells like cumin mixed with a bit of cinnamon.

Lavender is a stronger focus with Le Male Elixir Absolu. There might be some iris in here or it’s just how the lavender and tonka bean are coming across.

Which start do I like more?

I’ll go with Ultra Male. Elixir Absolu isn’t at its best upon first spraying, it does take some time to settle into a better fragrance. I think the opening act is its weak spot, which isn’t the case for Ultra.

Edge: Ultra

Projection

I am going off of the bottles that I own of each of these fragrances. My bottle of Ultra Male is from years ago, so, I don’t know if the performance has weakened since (I haven’t read anything about it) then.

Ultra Male has a fresh element to it, but it is a heavier scent that creates a massive cloud and projects like crazy. Really, it’s an absolute monster for a designer cologne. Probably the strongest of all that I own, at the moment.

Is it an easy win for Ultra? It’s a win, but not easy. Le Male Elixir Absolu is also very powerful, pretty much the same as the original Elixir. If you’ve tried that one, expect more of the same. 

I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with what either of these two brings to the table. However, one clearly has an edge, and it’s Ultra Male.

Edge: Ultra Male

Longevity

Ultra Male at the low end lasts 9 hours for me. At the higher end, well into double digit hours. Most of the time, it goes towards the 12 hour mark. The last few times that I’ve worn Ultra Male, that’s what its done.

Elixir Absolu matches the original Elixir with a 9-10.5 hour time frame. It’s no slouch with how it performs in comparison. A very good designer cologne, in this respect.

It’s a close contest between these two, but Ultra seems to have the edge at the high end. It can add a few more hours on top of what its competitor is capable of. 

Edge: Ultra

Versatility

This is a category, where I think Elixir Absolu has more of an edge.

Neither of these fragrances is formal. Both are best in autumn and winter. In that sense, they are similar.

But, I think that Elixir Absolu would be the better daily wear scent between them. I’ve always liked Ultra Male as more of a nightlife scent, when I want something fun and powerful to spray on.

Each of them also lean much more youthful, in how they come across. But, I think the Elixir version has more refinement when compared to Ultra. I’ll give it this category.

Edge: Elixir Absolu

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these two scents do I enjoy more? It’s a close call, because as of now, these are my two personal favorite colognes from this line. I own bottles of each of them and obviously wear them around quite a bit.

In comparison, I still think that I prefer wearing Ultra Male a bit more than Le Male Elixir Absolu. It’s not a massive advantage, but I still think there is a bit of a separation for me.

The opening is better, a tad greater performance, and I think it holds on to its top spot throughout when compared to the high marks of Absolu. 

Elixir Absolu is quite nice in its dry down phase, which is why it rose so quickly on my list. Both of these are bold and fragrances that might not be the best picks for some people. For instance, if you’re looking for something more suitable for professional environments, neither of these is going to be ideal.

Winner: Ultra Male