By Designer

Boss Bottled EDT (No. 6) by Hugo Boss

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In this latest installment of this site’s series of ratings and reviews of men’s fragrances, I want to take a closer look at Boss Bottled EDT (aka No. 6) by Hugo Boss. It was released in 1998. I have already created a list of the top Hugo Boss colognes but I wanted to zoom in a bit and focus on this one individual fragrance from the line.

So, continue below to get my full take on this scent and whether or not it is worth a buy. Note: I have updated this review, 4 years after the original, to expand further on No. 6.

What does Boss Bottled EDT (No. 6) Smell Like?

Notes include: apple, cinnamon, vanilla, woods, plum, sandalwood

Click here to try: Boss No. 6 by Hugo Boss for Men – 3.3 Ounce EDT Spray

Full Review

My first impression of Number 6 is that it is a really clean fragrance. Note: It just gets called Boss Bottled EDT, nowadays. I could right away see how this could work as an everyday wear and something that people around you would respond positively towards.

The apple note is most noticeable to me, and the way it blends with the cinnamon, sort of reminds me of the flavoring in Apple Cinnamon Toaster Strudels. Not like the apple note in something such as Tommy Hilfiger.

Up top, the apple gets paired with a somewhat tart plum. Though, I’d still lean toward calling the entire composition sweet, at this point.

The first part of the wear, is more of a fruity cologne, with underlying spices. It will then shift, towards being less dominated by these notes.

As we move further along, the vanilla and wood notes, really start to come through. Sandalwood, cedar, and other woods begin to rise of from the base. The vanilla, which was always present, takes over for much of the plum and apple.

The vanilla note does give it that smooth sweetness, which I tend to like, but I don’t feel as if Boss Bottled goes too far into the ‘sweet’ category (during the dry down).

This is because the sandalwood and cedar notes especially, give it a woodsy base, that seems to keep it masculine and intriguing.

Finally, what I’m left with is a woody vanilla fragrance with strong whiffs of apple and cinnamon. It is creamy, fresh, and still sweet.

While this has been replicated by others recently, Boss Bottled, for sure had plenty of uniqueness when released in the 90s.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This one isn’t a projection beast but it isn’t totally subdued either. There are many other options for guys who want a loud fragrance, Number 6 however, is soft to moderate in its scent but still quite sensual.

For the first hour, it will create a nice radius of scent around my skin, and then draws closer.

Longevity wise, I’d say it’s on the lower end of moderate…4-6 hours of decent projection, which was quite disappointing. That’s not absolutely terrible, but if you’re paying full price per bottle, it can be.

Boss Bottled is a rather versatile scent. Climate wise, it can fit in most situations, except for extreme heat and humidity.

Honestly, it’s not the worst at that, just not great in the summer months either. The rest of the year, and especially temperate climates, it works very well.

Outside of the seasonal aspect, this Hugo Boss scent is very versatile. It can work for younger men, but isn’t limited to that set. Not that this is the most mature perfume, but, older guys could certainly wear this.

I’ve worn this casually, semi-formally, and to an office setting. No issues with any of that. Is it attractive? Yes, the masculine sweetness will garner complements, and can be used for dates.

Bottled No. 6 isn’t really a club scent, in the sense that, you want a projection beast. If you want subtlety, sure.

Overall Impression of Boss Bottled No. 6

Overall, I think that Boss Bottled is a very good cologne. It is pleasant, versatile, sexy, and seems to work well in temperatures outside of the brutal summer.

Is it a buy? I’d lean towards yes. While it smells great, it doesn’t necessarily perform as well as other potential colognes.

However, it isn’t terribly expensive either, and I could definitely see a guy getting use out of it.

Though, nowadays, I might just pick up a bottle of Ferrari Black which is a cheaper version of this scent pretty much. Since this isn’t an amazing performer, you should consider getting something close to this smell, for a whole lot less money.

I still like this one and it hasn’t completely lost a step. But, it did come out 25 years ago, and a lot has been done that is better than Bottled EDT. At a discount, I might still pick this up versus all of the imitators that have tried to mimic this Hugo Boss.

Intimately Beckham by David Beckham

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I have already reviewed a few fragrances from the David Beckham line of men’s colognes (The Essence and Instinct) and thought that I’d tackle another one of the popular scents, Intimately Beckham. I want to take a closer look to answer some questions as to its particular scent and performance during wear. This is another really affordable everyday cologne but is it worth a purchase?

What does Intimately Beckham Smell Like?

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

Notes include: Amber, sandalwood, cardamom, grapefruit, star anise, nutmeg, violet

My Full Review

Intimately Beckham is a bit of a change up from the two scents that I previously reviewed. It is a play between sweet and spicy but not in a heavy way, it is more of a refreshing spice and not overwhelming.

The opening is fairly woodsy/earthy from the violet, sandalwood, cardamom, and of course the nutmeg note which highlights this cologne’s start. I’m honestly not too big of a fan of the opening 10-15 minutes of this fragrance, it’s kind of weird and synthetic to me but I think that it develops pretty well from there.

There are some light citrus notes in the opening, but they don’t particularly stand out, to my nose. It’s a bit sweet, but I mostly pick up on cardamom and nutmeg, paired with those notes such as grapefruit.

When it finally does develop, I get a total late autumn to winter wear vibe from this scent. It would probably be awful to wear outside on a hot day, as it’d just become an overheated mess.

On the other hand, when used in its element, Intimately Beckham provides a warm amber and slightly powdery aroma that vaguely reminds me of a lower grade version of The One by D&G.

The sandalwood base, really begins to take hold for me, about 20 minutes in. At that point, any citrus is pretty much gone. Violet and amber emerge, the spice of anise/nutmeg/cardamom, pretty much surround these notes.

Finally, we get to what we’re left with for the remainder of the wear. Sandalwood is a major player in the latter stages. Frankly, the major player. It is soaked in a nice amber note, with a nutmeg spice.

It’s warm, fresh, with enough underlying sweetness to prevent it from going too heavy into the spiced category. It’s actually very smooth and refined, at this stage. Intimately smells much more expensive than its low price tag would otherwise indicate.

Sillage, Versatility, and How Long Does it Last?

Intimately Beckham actually projects itself better than Instinct, in my opinion. It does seem to have more strength although like Instinct, doesn’t shave the type of longevity I want out of a cologne.

I’d call the sillage moderate, for the first hour or so. Then, fairly light thereafter. On skin, it seems to go 4-5 hours. Sometimes, a little less, but usually it will hit those metrics just fine.

It’s safe and non offensive and does smell very pleasant for casual wear on the cooler days of the year. Again, avoid the heat with this one. It’s a warmer, fresh, and cozy sort of cologne. Not going to hold up well in the summer.

It is, however, quite an attractive fragrance. For younger guys, this can be an all around wear for autumn and winter. It is mature enough, to be used for dates or evenings out, as well.

Overall Impression of Intimately Beckham

Overall, this fragrance does smell good, but it isn’t a standout must have, for me anyway. For the price, it isn’t a terrible buy but it won’t set you apart much from the crowd.

It is attractive and the people around you will probably like it, while it lasts. If it were more expensive, I’d say no but at this price point, I don’t think it’s a bad buy at all.

Intimately Beckham is a good pick up for the younger set. It’s dirt cheap, but you get a very nice aroma from it. Performance isn’t great, but you can certainly re-apply or over spray, without breaking the bank. If this lasted a 6-8 hours on skin, it’d be an absolute steal. As is, it’s not a bad bargain.

Mont Blanc Legend vs. Individuel Cologne Comparison

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For this men’s cologne comparison, I want to take a close look at two entries from Mont Blanc’s collection of scents, Individuel vs. Legend. Which one of these popular perfumes, has the better smell? Which lasts longer? I will compare them in the usual categories and have included my full review of each linked below. Then, I will declare which one I think is actually the top fragrance.

Tale of the Tape

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

Individuel

Notes include: Cinnamon, oakmoss, vanilla, mint, bergamot, lavender, sandalwood, violet, and more

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Individuel Eau de Toilette, 2.5 fl. oz.

Read my review: Mont Blanc Individuel

Opening

Individuel is led by notes of cinnamon, vanila, and sandalwood. It is sweet, creamy, and a slightly spiced woody aroma that reminds me a lot of Original Santal or a toned down, Joop!

What separates it from those two fragrances, is the bergamot, juniper, and raspberry notes. That gives Individuel a fruitier aroma than those other two.

Legend starts off with fruit notes of pineapple, apple, and bergamot. They are very clean with a nice crisp scent. Then, you get a layer of both tonka bean and lavender.

Which is better? I like the opening of Legend, it is attractive and easy to wear. However, Individuel has that warm sweetness, that is very easy to enjoy. It’s like a more affordable Original Santal, especially at the start, and that’s a scent I like a lot.

Edge: Individuel

Projection

Both of these fragrances are pretty moderate. The sillage is good, but not huge, for either. No real clear winner for this category.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Individuel lasts for about 6-8 hours, on my skin. That’s a solid amount of time and will work for most purposes. With Legend, I get 5-6 hours, and that is pretty consistent. Individuel isn’t an insanely long lasting cologne, but it wins this round.

Edge: Individuel

Versatility

Both of these colognes are casual, work, and daytime wears mostly. You can wear them out for an evening, but they aren’t really ‘sexy’ or club beasts, by any stretch. However, Legend can fit in more year round, in all climates.

Meanwhile, Individuel, is better in cooler weather and can venture into springtime. Not that good in the heat.

Edge: Legend

Overall Scent

Mont Blanc Legend to me, is a simple and pleasant fragrance, that is very versatile with a clean and non-offensive aroma. It’s really popular because it has that great citrus, tonka bean, and lavender scent with some woodiness in the base to add depth.

Individuel, is the slightly better option, in my mind. It has that Original Santal-like blend but with an added raspberry note, which keeps it sweet and quite fresh. It’s not an amazing fragrance, but I’ve always enjoyed it a bit more than wearing Legend.

Matter of fact, Legend Night, is the best Mont Blanc cologne and what I wear consistently.

I like this sweet warm smell with hints of cinnamon and sandalwood, that is in Individuel. Plus, it will give me a few extra hours of wear. It’s a close contest, but I know which I give the win to.

Winner: Individuel

Y Le Parfum by YSL

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Y Le Parfum is the latest release from the Y line of men’s fragrances here in 2021. It follows four other scents that YSL has put out over the past few years under this banner. I got a decanted sample of this stuff recently and have been testing out over the past few days. How does it smell? How long does it last? When should it be worn? Is it even worth a try?

What does Y Le Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: apple, grapefruit, ginger, aldehydes, lavender, sage, geranium, patchouli, tonka bean, and cedar

Click here to try: Y Le Parfum

My Full Review

The opening act of Le Parfum is pretty similar in many ways to both Y EDP and EDT. You get the apple and ginger combination up top, along with the sage and geranium already peaking through.

The difference is, Le Parfum isn’t nearly as bold, has more of a sweetness, while being greenish and somewhat dark. Yes, you do still get the citrus/fruity notes, it’s grapefruit here. Though, the addition of the aldehydes, gives this one a bright/sweet/slightly fresh aroma.

I’m not too enthused with the opening, but it’s still pretty nice overall.

Once I get past this initial phase, I really begin to enjoy Y Le Parfum. It becomes softer, with hints of sage still providing an edge, but with an attractive sweetness.

It’s sort of comparable to Legend Night or Versace Eros, at this stage. Apple, tonka bean, lavender, cedar, and geranium are running the show. A somewhat dark sweetness with a fresh woody base. It just doesn’t have the same density to my nose, as those others.

The final stage is lavender, tonka bean, and a mix of the remaining fruity and woody notes. There are plenty of other scents which have done this pairing, though, it’s really great here. I couldn’t stop smelling the amount that I applied to my wrist.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

After having used Y EDP for a while, I was expecting Le Parfum to have somewhere close to a similar sillage, it doesn’t. It is fairly noticeable at the start but hangs quite close to the skin for the rest of the wear.

I’d rate it as a moderate fragrance and not one that is going to take over a room. My favorite part of the wear, just happens to be when Y Le Parfum is at its weakest point.

Also, the longevity here isn’t great. I get 6-6.5 hours of wear from this one. Maybe it’s gotten to 7 a few times. Not horrendous, but for the price and the previous entries in this series, it’s disappointing.

Only slightly better than Eau Fraiche, which at least has the excuse of being a lighter summer wear. This just doesn’t have the YSL Y EDP performance level.

Even applying the fragrance to an old t-shirt didn’t yield much better results.

Seasonally, Le Parfum is a versatile cologne. I’d stay away from the extreme highs or lows in temperatures, but it wouldn’t feel out of place in autumn, spring, or the moderate days of the other two seasons.

This Y scent has a more mature and subtle profile than the others in the series. It doesn’t have that bold ‘punch you in the face’ power of EDP and it has a complexity that the others don’t. Suitable for many age ranges and occasions.

Overall Impressions of Y Le Parfum

Overall, do I like Y Le Parfum? Yes, particularly the dry down period. The opening isn’t amazing to me, as it feels like a muted EDP, but it distinguishes itself in the second act.

The problem for me is, I already own EDP and this doesn’t do enough in terms of performance, to separate itself.

The opening is the strongest point and it feels like a lesser than EDP. By the time it takes on that sweet and enjoyable dry down, the fragrance is pretty weak.

As of right now, this is my second favorite Y scent, after EDP. Some aspects of it, I actually like better, but it doesn’t take the top spot in its totality.

However, Le Parfum might be a good solution for those who think that EDP is too loud. It has gotten less likeable for me over time, though. Le Parfum doesn’t seem like a great deal, based on its starting price.

Though, once you can grab discounted bottles, it’s worth a try. Very nice fragrance, just not top tier, in my eyes.

Dior Homme Sport (2012) by Christian Dior

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Today, we’ve got a review of Dior Homme Sport by Christian Dior (2012 edition). This is a flanker fragrance of the fantastic Dior Homme line of scents that has been released over the last decade plus. How does this one rate? What does it smell like? How does it perform? Continue reading below for my full wear review of Dior Homme Sport.

What does Dior Homme Sport 2012 Smell Like?

Notes include: Sicilian Citron, iris, ginger, cedarwood

Click here to try: Christian Dior Dior Homme Sport Eau De Toilette Spray 2012 Edition for Men, 1.7 Ounce

My Full Review

Alright, from the start, I have concluded that this sample I am reviewing from is a 2012 Edition of Dior Homme Sport. There is also a 2017 version which has some differences in the composition, so make sure you know which one you’re getting, before buying…even though, they still are somewhat similar.

If buying from a discount retailer, I would suspect you’ll be getting the 2012, at this point in time and of course that can change going forward. Update: Not any more.

From the opening, I notice how much this Homme Sport edition smells like Hugo Red. They both share citrus and cedar notes of different variations, but they really do strike a familiar chord to one another.

This is great for me, as I enjoy wearing Hugo Red during the warmer months of the year, but the comparison is mostly confined to the opening 30 minutes or so.

It’s interesting because Red contains a metallic aroma and Dior Homme Sport even manages to mimic that, perhaps it’s the combination of citrus and the heavier iris note?

Dior Homme Sport has a very sharp lemon kick and an energetic freshness, which I find quite wonderful. The iris becomes more dominant as the fragrance moves along and adds the floral/green vibe with support from the cedar wood.

So, it moves from heavy citrus and Hugo Red like to something that is more woody/green with a solid presence of citrus. Dior Homme Sport is a very straightforward kind of cologne, not much changes through the wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection is quite good for the first hour or two and then drops down to something more moderate and close to the skin, which is disappointing, but not terrible.

Longevity wise, it’s not great but again, not awful. I get around 5 or 6 hours of wear from Dior Homme Sport. Meh.

While I do find this scent to be attractive, it doesn’t strike me as sexy, or any type of club scent. It’s a great casual wear for the warmer months of the year. Outdoorsy, in a leisurely sport kind of way. It’s got class and a nice sense of energy behind it.

Overall Impressions of Sport 2012

Overall, would I recommend Dior Homme Sport 2012? I enjoy it. Again, there are different versions and as I recall this one is different from the original, which I really liked.

If you need a summertime wear for the day, this is a very good choice.

It’s upbeat and clean and pleasant to wear. One might go with the aforementioned Hugo Red, if wanting to save money, since the start of each scent is so similar. Yes, they do end up on different paths, but both are good smelling colognes.

Update: Yes, 2012 was one of the best editions. Much better than both 2017 and 2021 (which is my least favorite so far). If you’re wanting something along these lines, maybe you can still find Luna Rossa Eau Sport around.

Other than that, Sport 2012 is basically long gone, outside of bottles on a site like eBay. Even with those, they are very much overpriced versus what the scent used to go for. To me, it’s not really worth it. Though, this was a great summer wear.