By Designer

Play by Givenchy

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Another one of the recent samples, I’ve received is Play by Givenchy. It came out almost ten years ago and they describe it as a fresh woody scent. I’d actually put it more into the citrus/spice category, though. In this post, I want to give an overview of how it smells, how Play performs, and whether or not this Givenchy cologne is a buy.

What does Play by Givenchy Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, bitter orange, grapefruit, coffee flower accord, amyris wood, vetiver

Click here to try: Givenchy Play for Men by Givenchy 3.3 oz 100 ml EDT Spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Givenchy Play is a blend of citrus, mainly dominated by grapefruit, and a spicy pepper note. I am immediately struck by how this smells exactly like Hugo Red, if you replaced the metallic note in Red with a coffee note in Play.

Seriously, these two are almost dead ringers for one another. Since I like wearing Hugo Red in the summer; I like Givenchy Play. As Play develops more, the coffee note becomes more noticeable which give it an interesting richness, that gives it that slight difference from Red.

That’s for the opening act, it becomes more distinct from the Boss scent, after that.

Moving along, Play continues its freshness with the variety of citrus notes, and the oncoming base woodsy notes. Amyris wood? That’s the note, not sure I’ve encountered it though. Pretty generic wood smell.

Vetiver has some prominence here, though, it doesn’t strike me as powerful. Citrus with a clean spice and a fresh earthy/woods aroma.

So, mostly citrus and spice. The coffee note isn’t as strong, as it is in Play Intense. It’s not too complicated, however, a fun wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Play is pretty moderate, and might even be slightly weaker than Hugo Red. The sillage isn’t going to go beyond a few feet, except upon the initial spray. Definitely not a powerhouse, by any stretch.

It’s longevity is pretty decent, around 6-7 hours of solid performance. Pretty standard. Many citrus colognes like this one, don’t last very long. This is actually decent, in this category, as some fade after 2-3 hours.

To me, this is a spring/summer type of scent that is good for casual everyday wear. You could wear this in semi-formal situations or out at night, also. Still, I mainly wore the sample around town, when it was warm and sunny out.

Overall Impressions of Play

Overall, is Play a buy? It’s a very nice fragrance but it smells like Hugo Red and you can get a larger bottle of that for cheaper. Update: Givenchy Play came out in 2008. Nowadays, you’ll probably have to pony up a lot of money to get a bottle. Paying a few hundred for this stuff is absurd. For cheap, it’s worth a try.

However, if you were looking into Givenchy Play Intense as well, it would make sense to grab Hugo Red and a bottle of Play Intense too.

The Intense version is much more of a gourmand scent for the cooler months of the year and has way less of the citrus and more of the coffee and a tonka bean note.

I really like the citrus here and the light coffee. I dig summertime citrus colognes and I enjoyed wearing Play. Not my favorite, but was a solid example from the last decades.

La Nuit de L’Homme Eau Electrique by YSL

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On my way out of El Prat airport, I once again stopped into a duty free shop to explore the fragrance selection, and came across a newer offering from Yves Saint Laurent…La Nuit de L’Homme Eau Electrique. The blue color and the name caught my eye, so I figured that I would try this one out and wear it on the flight home. In this post, I am going to give my initial impressions and opinions about this cologne after a single wear.

What does La Nuit Eau Electrique Smell Like?

Notes include: cedar, vanilla, tonka bean, cashmere, vetiver, lavender, apple, geranium, bergamot

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’Homme Eau Electrique Eau De Toilette Spray 100ml/3.3oz

My Full Wear Review

OK, so, going into this test I had zero expectations or notions about Electrique. In fact, I’d never even heard of it. I think that’s the best way to do a review of this sort, since my mind won’t be clouded by what I ‘wanted’ the cologne to be, and can simply judge it based on merit.

I sprayed this one twice on my arm about an hour or so before my transatlantic flight back to the US from Spain. Update: I’ve since had a travel spray size of Eau Electrique and am updating my thoughts throughout this post.

It initially struck me as smooth with a creamy/powdery offering of tonka bean with a woody base and some fruit thrown in to boot. Electrique was really fresh and drew me in from the very jump and I could smell it on me as I walked to my boarding gate.

That’s a very simple test of whether or not I think something is worth my while, is it an enjoyable addition to the background of my everyday life? For Electrique, I vote that yes, it is.

Eau Electrique opens with a noticeable apple and some citrus notes. The apple, tonka, vanilla, and lavender are really present up top with the main tonka bean note. Really, apple and tonka bean.

Then, the second wave brings in geranium paired with that lavender sitting under a tonka/vanilla combo.

The notes in Electrique have some overlap with Versace Eros, but, I think they are two different fragrances and the similarities aren’t that noticeable.

Eros is a much louder and has more of a citrusy aroma than does Electrique, though, the tonka bean and apple notes are shared.

Update: I could also compare this to Montblanc’s Legend Night, but noticeably lacking the heavy cardamom note.

Electrique is understated and while it has some sweet elements, it never becomes overbearing. I think the prevalence of the cashmere was a nice touch and gives Electrique some more separation from the original La Nuit.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Electrique was good during my one off test. It was noticeable during the wear and even kind of heavy at first. It isn’t a complete beast or anything but it is getting close to crossing that line.

I got 7-8 hours of use out of it. The last few hours it was more of a skin scent. However, I can’t really say for certain how it will perform with just one wear but it seems legit enough. Update: Yep, 6-8 hours, consistently.

Electrique is more suited toward cold weather wear. It worked fine in an air conditioned environment but I’m not sure that’ll hold up in the heat. Update: Not great in high heat, but moderate springtime temperatures, it is fine.

It does seem to have some versatility as both a casual fragrance and one which will work as a date night type of cologne.

Overall Impressions of Eau Electrique

Overall, is La Nuit de L’Home Eau Electrique worth a buy? I actually really liked wearing this fragrance. It’s nothing Earth shattering; but it is very good. It gives good performance and has a very attractive scent with a tangential relation to the original La Nuit.

It’s a good bet as an Eros alternative, if you don’t like the lemon note there. Also, the geranium can come across a bit like mint. It’s not a dupe, but they do have a very similar style.

Eau Electrique has now been discontinued, so, grab a bottle while you still can for cheap.

Electrique is a smooth and fresh fragrance with a powdery finish and a woody heart. It’s not super outstanding or ‘special’ but it is really damn nice.

4 Best Smelling Michael Jordan Colognes

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Michael Jordan is not only a basketball icon, he is also one of the most famous people on the planet. Younger people from across the globe, who never actually saw him play a game, still buy his shoes and clothing at a high rate.

Back in the late 1990s, Jordan capitalized on this popularity by launching a celebrity fragrance line. In this post, I want to pick the four best scents that have been launched under the Michael Jordan name, and talk a bit about what makes each one worth a try.

What are the Best Michael Jordan Fragrances?

Most Popular

Michael Jordan Men Eau De Cologne Spray, 1.7 Ounce– The original and still among the best of this line of fragrances. Though, I wouldn’t rank it the highest, this fragrance from his Airness has a certain fresh quality to it.

It’s a blend of citrus and green/woodsy elements. Fairly synthetic but clean. The citrus notes open things up. Then, the herbal and greenish notes start to come through to up that freshness. Juniper and cypress are the main ingredients that I can pick out from the aroma.

After that, it’s a woodsy/musky blend, which gives Michael Jordan cologne a somewhat soapy cleanliness.


Best for Summer

Michael Jordan 23 By Michael Jordan For Men. Cologne Spray 3.4 Ounces– 23 is a cologne that kind of hits you with a bit of misdirection. It starts off like a standard aquatic with citrus and melon notes but then becomes more floral and interesting, led by a geranium note.

It’s a solid casual wear for the warmer months, at a cheap price point. There is a spicy freshness that comes through during the wear. Mainly, I get a watery fruitiness up top, geranium clean, with an additional magnolia. The performance isn’t that great, but it’s also like $15…

Best Overall Jordan Scent

Michael Jordan Flight Cologne For Men 3.4 oz Eau De Toilette Spray – Flight is a nice little substitute fragrance, sort of like a Designer Impostor’s scent. It has a lot of similarities to numerous fragrances, most notably, L’Homme by YSL.

They don’t strike me as exactly the same, Flight is more in your face and spicy than is L’Homme. Still, for the price, a good bet.

That being said, the spiciness isn’t overly intense, it comes across as a clean and fresh aroma. That then, is blend with a bit of amber and a citrus smell.

Best Performance

Mîchael Jordan Legend Cologné for Men 3.4 oz Cologne Spray– Legend is a sneaky good fragrance from the Jordan line and probably gives the best performance out of any of them. Sweet and warm with an aroma close to that of Rochas Man.

It’s main notes include coffee, leather, amber, lavender, and anise. Legend is a cold weather cologne that delivers. Not overly warm and heavy, like the more expensive gourmand fragrances. This one is thinner, but still brings a pleasant and pretty long lasting scent.

Eau de Lacoste L.12.12. Rouge vs Blanc Cologne Comparison

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In this cologne comparison, I want to take a closer look at two options from Lacoste’s L.12.12. line of men’s fragrances, Blanc and Rouge.  Which one of these scents, Red or White, is the better buy in terms of overall smell, performance, and function.

I have linked out to each of my original reviews of these colognes below and present my thoughts on each further in detail in those posts. For this, I break it down into different categories and assign whether one has the edge over the other.

Tale of the Tape: Lacoste Blanc vs. Rouge

L.12.12 Blanc

lacoste l.12.12 white

Notes include: cardamom, grapefruit, ylang-ylang, cedar, rosemary, suede, tuberose, leather

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

Read my original review: L.12.12 White

L.12.12 Rouge

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Notes include: ginger, mango, black pepper, mandarin liqueur, cardamom, red roiboos tea

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

Read my original review: Lacoste Red Review

Opening

The openings of both of these colognes are really good. Lacoste Red has an interesting mango note for that summery vibe, while White starts with an energetic grapefruit/floral/woodsy mix.

Blanc has the grapefruit citrus with a fresh woody cedar note. This is joined by the suede/leather smoothness and some warm cardamom and herbal rosemary. It’s got the floral elements, though, it comes across as earthy.

Rouge starts off with that nice mango, some mandarin liqueur, and a unique tea note. I like the uniqueness of this blend, especially early on in the wear.

I have to say, neither one is head or shoulders above the other during the opening, so I’ll say it’s a push for this category. They both start out quite well.

Edge: Push

Projection

Neither is a beast throughout the entire process but they do both project pretty well at the start. I’d say White is the brighter and more noticeable of the two and it tends to have better longevity in terms of projection, as well.

Edge: White

Longevity

So, neither of these are all that great with longevity. Right around 4-5 hours but Red seems to do less than that sometimes, which sucks. White has the edge while still not being a great performer itself.

Edge: White

Versatility

Both scents are pleasant and casual wears for the warmer months of the year. They don’t have the projection or longevity to be a ‘club/nightlife’ cologne. You could use either one for a date but they aren’t particularly sexy. Just fresh and clean for casual situations.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I think that White smells better and is the better performer. I like Red and wouldn’t mind wearing it, if the longevity were better. L.12.12. White just has more energy and a great smell. It too suffers a bit with longevity but it’s passable.

I think that Blanc is a good cologne for springtime and it definitely has the edge between the two in my book.

Winner: White 

Bvlgari Aqva vs Aqva Marine Cologne Comparison

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Alright, when dealing with flanker fragrances, there can often be a lot of overlap (by design) between two scents. Sometimes, a designer will go completely in another direction, and a new iteration of a scent will smell completely different than its predecessor. Bvlgari’s Aqva line, takes the former route.

This is especially true with Aqva Pour Homme and Aqva Marine, these two are very close relatives of one another. However, which one smells better? In this post, I am going to compare these Bvlgari fragrances and try to separate a winner.

Tale of the Tape: Aqva vs. Marine

Aqva

Notes include: mandarin, seaweed, cedar, orange, lavender, petitgrain

Click here to try Aqva: Aqua By Bvlgari Eau De Toilette Spray For Men 3.4 oz

Read my Full Review of Aqva Pour Homme

Aqva Marine

Notes include: grapefruit, seaweed, neroli, cedar, rosemary, mandarin

Click here to try Aqva Marine: Bvlgari Aqva Marine Pour Homme by Bvlgari 3.4oz 100ml EDT Spray

Opening

The opening of the original Aqva Pour Homme, is a mix of the orange, cedar, and seaweed notes. This is when you’re going to get the most citrus-y aroma of the bottle before it moves on into a more salty aquatic.

This period lasts for 10-15 minutes on my skin.  Aqva Marine, on the other hand, starts off with a citrus blend of orange and grapefruit. The seaweed note is ever present but the cedar doesn’t seem to be as strong in Aqva Marine.

It really comes down to which you prefer, more or less citrus, but neither opening aroma lasts long at all.

Edge: (Slight) Aqva

Projection

Both are about the same, in my opinion. These aren’t super strong colognes but do have strong starts and stay noticeable for a good amount of time. For much of the wear, they’re essentially lighter moderate fragrances.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Again, we are dealing with extremely similar creatures here. Five or maybe six hours is about all you should expect from either Aqva scent. Both are just okay, in this regard.

Edge: Push

Versatility

To me, they are both casual summertime fragrances, that I would prefer to wear out and about versus the office. These aquatics are good to wear when the heat and humidity is up during the summer or when you live in a year-round tropical climate. Not any distinction here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

There is really so much similarity between these two but there is just enough distinction to set them apart. Aqva will deliver a salty marine blend of lavender and cedar, with the orange notes eventually fading into the background.

You will get a strong orange opening which transitions into a much softer smooth marine/woody aroma.

Aqva Marine has a different citrus edge to it. It is much more oceanic in my opinion, with a watery saltiness to go along with the seaweed. The cedar is scaled back and there is a slight floral scent provided by the neroli.

If you want more of the oceanic scent, go with Aqva Marine.

I personally like the blend of the original Aqva Pour Homme a bit more than its flanker fragrance. The difference isn’t dramatic, but I do have a preference, and I go with that as the top dog.

Winner: Aqva Pour Homme