By Designer

Allure Homme Edition Blanche EDT by Chanel

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Allure Homme Edition Blanche EDT was released by Chanel back in 2008. I got a sample of this version a few months ago, along with the newer EDP that the brand still sells. My sample is marked concentree, so, I’m not sure if it was a further release beyond the regular EDT. Either way, this one is no longer produced, but I figured I’d do a review for posterity’s sake. 

What does Edition Blanche EDT Eau Concentree Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, pink pepper, vanilla, sandalwood, vetiver, tonka bean, amber

My Full Review

Blanche EDT opens with a sharp and dry use of lemon, vetiver, sandalwood, and pink pepper. You’re absolutely going to have to be a citrus lover with this one, to really appreciate it, as it is very sharp upon opening.

The lemon is going to dominate through much of the wear. Early on, it feels especially intense, but once the vanilla and tonka bean kicks in…it will settle.

The pink pepper is the first note to fall off and that gives the sandalwood and vetiver a bit more room in the base. The vanilla creaminess will start to envelope the lemon note, along with the tonka bean. 

This Chanel fragrance is actually pretty darn linear and there isn’t much development beyond that. Just more of the lemon/vanilla aroma and less of the other notes within the composition.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is moderate in the early stages and then pretty light thereafter. However, it does project itself very nicely early on and it’ll hang around well after spraying. Just don’t expect a complete beast for the duration.

Longevity wise, I get 6-ish hours on my skin with this Eau Concentree. Allure Edition Blanche spends much of that time, as a skin scent, but it does indeed hang around. Still noticeable, just not amazing with its performance.

 

Seasonally, Allure Edition Blanche is a spring and summer fragrance, all the way. Mainly, for the summertime. I like to wear it casually or even for a night out. Though, I’d say that it’s probably at its best in the daytime. 

Overall Impressions of Edition Blanche Eau Concentree

Do I like this fragrance? Absolutely. I know they don’t produce this version anymore, and the EDP is close enough, but I really do love this scent. Uden by Xerjoff is an available replacement (and in many ways even better).

That dry lemon and pink pepper opening act could scare some away from this. However, that creamy vanilla/sweet/dessert like finish is so damn good on a warm summer’s day. I have been slowly depleting my sample vial, since I know it’s such a rare commodity. 

The performance of Allure Edition Blanche was never its strong suit. The sillage is moderate, at its peak, but detectable. For much of the wear, it will be a softer experience. Though, it does stick around on the skin for a nice amount of time. 

I wish Chanel could’ve beefed up the performance a bit more.

If you want a bottle of this one in particular, you’ll have to shell out over $300 in all likelihood off a site like eBay. Or you can just go with the EDP, which is also near this same level. Uden is usually $200, but well worth it. 

Mont Blanc Legend EDT vs EDP

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Legend from Mont Blanc is still being used to inspire new flankers for the brand. The latest is an eau de parfum version of the famous Legend formula. I recently got a hold of a sample of Legend EDP to test it out and wanted to do another comparison post, with the original. Which of these is better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Mont Blanc Legend vs. Legend Eau de Parfum

Mont Blanc Legend

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

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

Read my review: Mont Blanc Legend

Legend EDP

Notes include: violet leaf, leather, jasmine, moss, bergamot, woods

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend eau de parfum 3.3 fl oz, 3.3 fl. oz.

Read my full review: Legend EDP

Opening

Legend opens with a blend of pineapple, bergamot, and apple. It is clean, but doesn’t have the same type of sharpness, as it is calmed by lavender and tonka bean. It also has a dry underlying aroma from the base, that will become more prominent later on.

Legend eau de parfum starts off with a pretty strong violet leaf note, some bergamot, and leather. It’s fresh and somewhat green, with what I’m guessing is their synthetic oakmoss substitute. There’s really not much going on here, it feels pretty flat.

Which is better? I’m not a huge fan of the original Legend, but I like the opening act more so than the EDP. It has way more personality. The EDP just sits there as a giant dose of violet leaf on my skin, with some additional notes lurking around, but not really standing out.

Edge: Legend

Projection

I’d say that both of these are moderate. I know EDP has the higher concentration, but it doesn’t feel any stronger when I compare it to the original. The sillage is about the same at its peak. Maybe EDP goes a little longer with its strength, but that’s about it. 

Not giving it an edge.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Legend EDT gives me 5-6 hours of solid wear. During testing, I’ve gotten between 6.5-8 hours of wear from the EDP version. Neither one is going to give a marathon type of wear, but the EDP has the clear edge here.

Edge: EDP

 

 

Versatility

Mont Blanc Legend is a very versatile scent and that’s definitely one of its strengths. It can be worn year round and fits in, within all environments. It is attractive enough for dates, can go out for an evening, but doesn’t have that massive club beast persona.

Legend EDP is about the same. The violet leaf and leather doesn’t really change when it can be worn compared to the EDT version. The leather isn’t that intense and the violet leaf works pretty much year round.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Legend EDP is a similar take on the original, but with some slight differences. Less of the top fruity notes, upping the violet leaf, and a leather/woody base coming through. The opening act isn’t all that great, but the dry down gets better for me.

I wish the leather was given more of a role versus the violet leaf. That would have given it more distinction and a bit more personality than it has. The performance is solid, just not incredible.

Honestly, the fragrance strikes me as just fine. If you liked the original, you’ll probably like the eau de parfum, even if you don’t necessarily need a bottle for yourself.

Between these two? I’d rather wear the EDT. Again, I’m not even much of a fan of Legend, but it at least has some more personality. The EDP is closer to A&F Fierce or Egoiste Platinum, than is the EDT, but isn’t as good as either of those fragrances.

There’s nothing all that new with the eau de parfum, to make it a must have versus the original. I don’t think it smells any better and the performance, isn’t that much better.

Winner: Legend EDT

The Scent Intense by Hugo Boss

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The line of Hugo Boss fragrances released under “The Scent” banner, have had many incarnations over the past 5+ years. I’ve reviewed the original EDT on the site, but recently picked up the other offerings to try and complete the collection (I know, I’m late). Today’s entry is going to be of The Scent Intense. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does The Scent Intense by Boss Smell Like?

Notes include: ginger, cardamom, maninka fruit, leather, vanilla, lavender, wood

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Hugo Boss describes it: An irresistible fragrance, unforgettable like a savored seduction. Exquisite notes of spicy cardamom, exotic maninka fruit, vanilla and leather unfold over time for an intense experience.

The Scent Intense opens up with a much spicier aroma than does the original. Off the bat, there is a lot of ginger and cardamom. The ginger is amped up from the original The Scent and the cardamom is a newer addition.

It’s a nice change of pace and I do like the intensity of the spice in the opening. The maninka fruit is still present, but it is without its citrus pairing. The Scent Intense is much less of a fruity fragrance, than is the EDT. 

The spicy top sticks around for a while, but Intense will quickly move into its leathery phase. Maninka, lavender, and leather are basically what is around for the middle act. To my nose, the ginger is gone, and the cardamom has weakened significantly.

Finally, the end game will mostly be vanilla and leather, along with the remaining maninka. I do like the combination of these notes, but I actually prefer the spicy opening act, to the vanilla and leather finish.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The Scent Intense does indeed open up with some power and the ability to project itself is actually really nice for a while. However, the overall sillage is pretty moderate, as the intensity drops pretty far once the spices have dissipated.

Nonetheless, it is much better than the completely weak EDT version. The longevity also goes for over 7 hours on my skin. It’s not completely beast mode, but very serviceable and useful for most purposes.

 

Seasonally, autumn through springtime like the original. It has a nice versatility, can be worn day or night, by a variety of age ranges and many different scenarios. The Scent Intense does have a sexy aroma, that should allow you to venture into the nightlife with confidence and appeal.

Overall Impressions of Boss The Scent Intense

Do I like this cologne? I do. In terms of smell, I actually do like the original a bit more. However, the performance here is actually pretty good, especially when put head to head with the dreadful performance of that original release.

While I like the leather and vanilla dry down, I wanted more of that initial freshness and spicy warmth that I got with the intense opening act. I enjoyed the cardamom and ginger mix, but it didn’t go on for long enough.

It seems like The Scent Intense is getting difficult to come across these days, since it was released back in 2017. It’s worth trying, if you can find it at a reasonable price.

I don’t think that it’s an amazing fragrance, but it’s very good overall. If one liked the original, this one should have something to offer you.

Creed Aventus vs Imperial Millesime Comparison

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Deciding which fragrance to buy can be tricky sometimes, as there are a multitude of factors from which to consider. This can become especially true when the colognes that you are considering cost in the triple digits to buy.

It is one thing to purchase a crummy scent that was $20 for the bottle versus one which was $175+. Creed is a luxury boutique brand known for its high quality ingredients and beautifully crafted scents.

In this post, I want to do a bit of a comparison between two options from Creed, Aventus vs Imperial Millesime and break down which will be the better option for most people and highlight the pros and cons of each.

Tale of the Tape: Aventus vs. Imperial Millesime

 

Creed Aventus 

creed aventus

Notes of Creed Aventus: 

Top: Blackcurrant,Italian bergamot, French apples and pineapple

Middle: Rose, dry birch, Moroccan jasmine, and patchouli

Base Notes: musk, oak moss, ambergris, and vanilla.

Click here to read my original Aventus Review

Click here to get Aventus: Aventus by Creed

Creed Imperial Millesime

Notes include: Lemon, Iris, Green Bergamot, Mandarin

My original review of Imperial

Click here to try Imperial Millesime: Creed Imperial

Opening 

The opening of Aventus can be a pretty harsh citrus to deal with. I don’t really like the opening of Aventus and if all I’d have to go by was the first 15 minutes or so, I’d think that this fragrance wasn’t worth wearing. The pineapple, blackcurrant, and the dryness of birch can be a bit much at first.

However, the fragrance settles down into something much more enjoyable and fresh. The next wave has less of the pineapple, more birch/oak moss, and some sweetness provided by a light vanilla and French apple. 

Meanwhile, the opening of Imperial is much smoother, with a wonderful melon type of scent that blends with sea salt to create something quite pleasant.

The melon-like smell is like a blend of a standard melon and a bit of watermelon. This is paired with a salty aquatic note, which is why I suppose it comes across smelling that way. It’s actually lemon and mandarin orange, as the notes, and not any watermelon. 

Anyway, Imperial Millesime is juicy, musky, and very bright in the opening stages. Which scent is better? To me, I greatly prefer the start to Imperial, more than I ever have Aventus. 

Edge: Imperial Millesime

Projection

Neither one of these fragrances is slipping in quality when it comes to projection. Aventus never really requires more than two sprays while Imperial is no slouch either. Aventus is the stronger of the two and I’d say it projects more than Imperial does.

So, both start strong, but Aventus reaches the higher heights of sillage and keeps at it for longer. 

Edge: Aventus

Longevity

Wearing both of these colognes, I haven’t noticed a difference in terms of how long they last. I usually get 7-10 hours of solid performance out of each. Mostly, Aventus will go 8 or 9 hours on my skin, a bit less when it’s hot out.

Imperial is usually around 7 or 8 hours, but can last better in the heat than can Aventus. It can also reach that 10 hour mark, on occasion, like Aventus. No clear winner, in my experience. 

Edge: Push

Versatility

Creed Aventus is best worn in the spring and autumn, in my opinion. I don’t think that it holds up well in the heat, but early summer isn’t bad. On the other hand, Imperial Millesime is great for summertime wear as well as the warmer months of spring.

However, Aventus can be pulled off rather well in the winter months, to whereas Imperial would seem out of place in the cold weather.

As far as, on what occasion each of these scents could be worn, I’d say that they could arguably be worn anywhere for any event. I wouldn’t really call Imperial a date night type of cologne though and even if I’d wear other scents besides Aventus on a night out, it could be done well. 

I much prefer Imperial, as a daytime wear, in more casual situations. Overall, I’d say Aventus has the greater versatility. 

Edge: Aventus

 

 

Overall Scent

Aventus develops into something that is woodsy/masculine/leathery and the citrus notes become undertones as the fragrances wears on. Meanwhile, Imperial has that unique fruity quality blended with salt notes that just reminds me of the summer and the ocean.

I actually like Imperial better in terms of its smell, BUT I think that most men would be better served by Aventus out of the two.

I say this simply because of its greater versatility of being worn. Imperial Millesime is a great signature type of scent, but I feel that it does have its limitations.

Aventus fits in better, during more situations and climates. Imperial is rather straightforward, but has a really delightful salty melon aroma. Aventus is deeper with greater nuance.

These two are pretty neck and neck, in my book, but most would go with Aventus.  I have grown sort of tired of the formula, as there have been endless Creed Aventus ‘dupes’ coming to market over the years.

Winner: Aventus (for most guys)

Guilty Essence (Black) Pour Homme by Gucci

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I first reviewed this fragrance way back in the beginning of this website. Actually, it was one of the first handful of full wear reviews that I ever wrote. Gucci Guilty Black was a cologne that I would wear quite a lot and really enjoyed it back then.

As such, I felt that it was time to update this page, and expand upon what makes this scent what it is. Especially since Gucci has now changed the name to Guilty Essence. Same cologne, new marketing.

I will cover how it smells, what’s inside, how it performs, and if it is still even worth a try.

Gucci Guilty Essence Overview

Gucci Best Cologne

Guilty Black Notes: green coriander, lavender, orange flower, neroli, patchouli, and cedar wood

Click here to try: Gucci Guilty Black Pour Homme Fragrance Collection 3.0-oz. Eau de Toilette

My Full Review

The first thing I’d like to say about Guilty Essence is that it definitely is not a boring fragrance. One of the best words I’ve read described it as, ‘hypnotic’, and I would agree wholeheartedly with that assessment.

It is a refreshing scent that isn’t fruity or too light, rather, it is completely masculine and versatile in its uses.

I notice immediately, how it shares a very similar DNA to its predecessor, Gucci Guilty. However, Essence doesn’t have that same citrus fruit top, but relies instead on orange flower and neroli to provide a different experience.

It starts off with a bit more of a spicier kick than the EDT version.

I will say, that I think Guilty Essence is better than Guilty Pour Homme. It’d be a tougher pick between this one and Guilty Intense, but I don’t want to get too off track here.

Essence is such a well-blended fragrance, that it can be hard to actually distinguish the notes themselves. Instead, it is more like you get the impression that each ingredient would normally give you, and sort of infer that it is there.

That being said, I can obviously pick up on that oh so familiar lavender, the other floral notes, and that great spicy coriander which adds a sexiness to the composition. The whole thing comes together as very green, fresh, masculine, with a great underlying spice/woodiness.

It shares that really clean and bright feeling that you get from wearing the other Gucci Guilty scents. I love the energy of this one and how I can pick out hints of notes, such as patchouli, when catching a whiff of it on my skin.

Sillage (Projection)

Projection wise, it was always very solid for me. Not huge, but not a weak skin scent either. Here’s what I wrote back in 2014, about it’s staying power: Also, it seems to both project well and it lasts long without fading. I put it on this morning at around 7:30 and it was still there at 6 PM when I left work, so it has staying power. 

This was of course from the original bottles of Guilty Black, but the longevity was great on my skin, and the sillage stayed pretty moderate throughout.

How Long does Guilty Black Last?

Coming back to testing this cologne out again, I still manage to get anywhere from 7-12 hours. It really depends on the climate and how much time I spend outside with Guilty Black on.

Updating again: I don’t seem to get double digit hours with Essence now. It’s more in the 7-9 hour range.

Season and When To Wear

Seasonally, another sort of year round wear. The Guilty line, always struck me as better in warm weather, but ubiquitous enough to spray it on whenever.  This is a cologne which is appropriate for the business world, but can be worn effectively for a date or a night at the club, as it draws attention.

Mostly, I always for it as a casual cologne, with t-shirt and jeans. Here’s another snippet of my initial experiences:  I’ve worn it three days thus far and have had at least one person comment positively on it during each one of those days. 

This is a scent for a man who exudes confidence and wants to be noticed and while it isn’t overpowering it does stand out. That can be a good or bad thing depending on your own personality but with a scent like this, one won’t stand out in a bad way.

It isn’t a heavy scent either, it’s clean, but not really definable as a clear woodsy scent or aquatic or even sporty.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Gucci Guilty Essence

Overall, do I think Guilty Essence is worth a try? Yep. This one has gained a substantial following since its release way back in 2013. It smells good and covers so many bases, that it is great to have on hand, when you just want something easy to wear.

Is it groundbreaking? No. It’s just a pleasant and sexy fragrance, which gets complements, and has nice performance. Sometimes, that is enough to make a cologne worthwhile.

This is still one of the best Gucci colognes for men, one of the better performers, and has good versatility.

They changed the name to Essence, but the formula remains the same and they’re still selling it, more than a decade later. So, you know it has plenty of fans, when so many other scents in this series got discontinued. It, just got rebranded.