By Designer

Green Irish Tweed by Creed

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In this post, I am going to continue my cologne reviews for men by taking a closer look at yet another Creed fragrance, Green Irish Tweed. I have already done 5 or so reviews of Creed scents and have created a list of the Best of Creed but have as of yet had a chance to tackle the popular, Green Irish Tweed.

How does this cologne measure up? Is it worth a purchase? What are the ingredients? How does it smell? I’ve been wearing it around and am ready to share my full thoughts on this fragrance.  Also Check Out: Green Irish Tweed Vs Aventus Creed Cologne Comparison

What does Green Irish Tweed Smell Like?

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Notes include: violet leaf, sandalwood, iris, ambergris, lemon verbena 

Click here to try: Green Irish Tweed By Creed For Men. Millesime Spray 4.0 Oz

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Green Irish Tweed is very earthy and has a sort of mossy/pine type of scent to it. To be honest, I’m not that big of a fan of the opening of this Creed fragrance, it doesn’t repulse me but it doesn’t draw me in really either.

It’s that first 15-20 minutes, where I am sort of at a loss, on how to feel about this cologne. I know some people really like it but it’s not quite my style.

I think that the violet leaf hasn’t yet settled at that point and I don’t like it with the lemon verbena. I don’t know, that greenish aroma isn’t all that pleasing.

However, once Green Irish Tweed starts to transition and the more citrus based notes begin to emerge, this stuff becomes quite nice and smooth. It has a refined and elegant aroma which is masculine without being overbearing or obnoxious.

To me, the whole fragrance is green, fresh, with a citrus kick provided by the lemon verbena.

When you get further in, the soapy/powdery quality begins to truly emerge. I know that this gets compared to Cool Water, quite a lot, and you can definitely smell a similarity between the composition.

Green Irish Tweed, does have that iris note and the ambergris, which aren’t in Cool Water. Also, it GIT has a green ‘grassy’ aroma, rather than the herbal spices of the Davidoff cologne. Plus, this isn’t an aquatic.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Longevity and projection wise, I would give Green Irish Tweed, high marks. It lasts 7-10 hours on my skin in mid-50 degree weather here in early winter.

Coming back to this again and again, it usually hits around 8.5 hours on my skin. Sometimes more, but this is the norm.

Also the sillage, was strong, but not monstrous. After the first few hours, it is much more of a moderate scent, but still great performance for me. I would just advise, not to go overboard with it, as it could become too much.

Although, I think this is more of a spring cologne with its clean, woodsy, soapy element. It could very well be worn nearly year round, though, I’d probably avoid the high heat of the summer months.

It is a versatile fragrance that can be worn formally or casually. It’s less of a sexy fragrance and more of a clean and pleasant one. People seem to be around this fragrance, as I have gotten some complements with it on, and nothing negative.

Overall Impressions of GIT

Is Creed’s Green Irish Tweed worth a purchase? Well, it is expensive but if you’re in the market for a Creed fragrance, then money isn’t much of an issue.

If you are the type of guy that likes citrus/woodsy/earthy type of smells and wants something that is fresh and distinct, then I’d say yes.

For me, I can wear it and enjoy it, but it isn’t my favorite by any stretch. In the Creed line, I generally prefer Imperial, Silver Mountain Water, Aventus, and maybe even Original Santal (despite the longevity issues). But, that preference fluctuates, as GIT belongs in that group too.

I recognize Green Irish Tweed as among the best of the Creed family, it will just appeal to some guys more than others. Some folks swear by it, but it is a nice fragrance with good performance, in my book.

Abercrombie & Fitch Fierce

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Fierce by Abercrombie & Fitch became super popular during the early to mid 2000s, as a fragrance that younger guys would cover themselves in. Why? Well, it simply worked. It smelled great on guys and the girls around them seemed to love it.

In this post, I want to go back and review this still, amazing seller and see what makes it go. As usual, I will cover how it smells, how long it lasts, when it should be worn, and if it is still worth a buy. Note: I am reviewing the classic formulation of Fierce.

What does Fierce by A&F Smell Like?

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Notes include: petit grain, cardamom, lemon, orange and fir

Fierce By Abercrombie & Fitch Cologne Spray 1.7 Oz For Men

My Full Review

Fierce opens up with an aroma that often gets compared to Mont Blanc’s Legend. I do get the similarities at stages, but I have always felt that this one, was the better of the two.

The citrus notes are prominent at the top, you get lemon and orange, to go along with plenty of dry woodsy elements.

Hence, the Legend comparison. The citrus notes give it a clean feeling, but you don’t really get a juicy aroma, as it is tempered by the rest of the composition.

The next phase joins the citrus with some herbal spice, from notes such as, sage. The spice is there in the opening few minutes, but in my mind the cologne always became a bit more peppery, when it transitioned past that immediate opening.

Finally, you get the fantastic dry down that is laden with vetiver, oak moss, musk, and fir. You do still get some herbal spice and that lemon top note, but you mostly get a green, dry, and fresh smell.

It’s super attractive and one that is etched in so many people’s memories, from days spent at the mall in the early 2000s.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this stuff had a very good sillage. You could bomb out a room, if you wanted to, but with normal sprays it was just a great performing cologne. The longevity was also there and you could get it to go all day, with only a few sprays.

Again, I am reviewing the original A&F Fierce. From what I understand, the newer bottles have been reformulated, due to regulations and don’t pack the same punch.

I’m not sure what the case is, as I haven’t had a bottle of this stuff in forever now. The smell will be essentially the same, just less power.

Fierce quite simply is a cologne that will get a man complemented. It isn’t an insanely strong scent or anything like that but it is one that leaves a sweet aroma which lingers for a bit.

The citrus notes of lemon and orange are there but sometimes it’s difficult to notice their impact on the fragrance because they are used so subtly.

Fierce has an amazing depth and complexity to it, which I think plays a large part in its appeal. The scent is fresh, clean, and masculine. Its woodsy elements give it that sexy and masculine vibe which the girls love because they’re not too strong and more of a moderate floral scent than some heavier men’s colognes.

Add to that, they layer of sweet tangy-ness and you have yourself a winning fragrance.

It was great for casual or semi-formal events. It definitely was a teenager to early 20s fragrance for guys. Fierce was literally everywhere back in the day, and it was perfectly fine, because you would still get complements on it.

I always liked the fragrance, but the reactions were always pretty crazy to me.

Overall Impressions of Fierce

The only real downsides to this cologne is its overwhelming popularity, so it isn’t one that is unique, and the fact that it can be out of the price range for some guys.

However, if you have the means to purchase Fierce, this Abercrombie cologne absolutely delivers and will draw people to want to stand near you.

Again, none of this may be true anymore, with the newer bottles, so you may need to rustle up a vintage edition. But, the fragrance is almost certainly the same, just with some potential weaker performance.

Hugo Energise by Hugo Boss

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My latest review will be Energise by Hugo Boss, which I recently received a sample vial of and hadn’t yet given it much of a try. I have already reviewed Boss Bottled No. 6 and Hugo Red, which I recommend trying out and wanted to see if this one could find a place in my rotation.

How did Energise perform? What does it smell like? Is it worth a purchase? Please continue below for my full impression of this cologne.

What does Hugo Boss Energise Smell Like?

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Notes include: mandarin, cocoa beans, freesia, pink pepper, kumquat, coriander, and more

Click here to try: Hugo Boss Energise Eau de toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Fluid Ounce

My Full Wear Review

I have a pretty solid amount of respect for Hugo Boss fragrances, so when I got a hold of a sample of this cologne, I was excited to try it. With a name like Energise, I figured it’d be a youthful and you know, energetic scent.

Upon opening, I get a citrusy type of smell mixed with pink pepper which adds a hint of spiciness. Also, the cocoa beans are faint, but I’m pretty sure I’m detecting them for an added layer of smoothness.

The mint that is present, gives this a coolness to go with the fresh warmth of the pink pepper. However, it just doesn’t seem to have a really crisp edge. It feels pretty flat. Clean, yes, but that’s about all.

Honestly, the opening is just so bland to me. It’s not a bad smell but it does seem really flat and uninspiring. I have no idea where they were trying to take this one.

On the one hand, it is a rather unique type of scent just based on the ingredients…BUT there’s nothing really there to make it pop. Just a semi-sweet blend of citrus and pink pepper.

There wasn’t too much of a drydown period with Energise either, as it doesn’t hold for very long. Some leather, the remaining citrus, and pink pepper. That’s about all that I get from this.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage isn’t huge, probably call it a lighter moderate cologne. It’s somewhat noticeable, but isn’t going to really assert itself.

While the projection is moderate, it only seems to last a few hours. Seriously, after a few tries with this scent, I got it to last 3 hours at its maximum. Somewhere in that range, is about what one can expect from Energise.

I suppose that this was meant to be a casual scent, since it certainly isn’t romantic, energizing, or seductive in any way. I would say that this would be more geared toward younger guys, but not completely a teenager’s fragrance. It has enough maturity to go higher in age range.

Overall Impressions of Energise

Overall, I’m just confused by this cologne. What’s its purpose? Performance is subpar and it is totally average while it does work. I can’t recommend Energise when there are so many others out there that are much better, including from Hugo Boss.

I don’t think that it smells bad at all. It’s just, meh. If it had better performance, I could maybe give it a thumbs up, at a cheap enough price point. But even for cheap, Energise doesn’t strike me as being worth it.

Doesn’t seem to be all that cheap, but the good news is (if you’re interested in Energise) is Boss still makes this, as of now. So, test is out for yourself.

Seductive Homme Blue by Guess

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I have a bottle of Guess Seductive, which I still use from time to time, when I want to wear something casual. For the price, Seductive is a great little cologne to have, as it smells really good and gives a good performance.

I had however, yet to try other Guess offerings, and decided that I would like to test out the flanker of Seductive, Guess Seductive Homme Blue.

In this post, I want to review Blue and give my thoughts on how it smells and performs as a fragrance.

What does Guess Seductive Homme Blue Smell Like?

Notes include: citrus, moss, caviar, black pepper, cashmere wood, cardamom

Click here to try Guess Seductive Homme Blue: Guess Seductive Homme Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, Blue, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Blue, really struck a note with me. Immediately, I liked this aroma better than the original Guess Seductive (which I really like).  Though, it feels a bit synthetic, it was such a unique and different scent that I was completely drawn in.

I couldn’t even identify any notes and had to look them up just to know what I was smelling. It’s a soft scent with a refreshing and slightly powdery/spicy smell yet has an aquatic/woody heart to it.

The cardamom note is dominate in this one and when paired with a vague hint of citrus, it takes on a La Nuit by YSL kind of scent. I’m not saying it smells just like the YSL cologne, however, those two notes make these colognes seem like distant cousins. Also see: Guess Seductive vs Guess Seductive Blue

Blue is really fresh and the aquatic pairing with a powdery spiciness is just great. One of the notes is caviar for God’s sake…it doesn’t really get more oceanic than that but when added to other hints of the sea and you’ve got something really different than other scents in this cheaper price range.

It isn’t a super masculine scent either, it could honestly be unisex. It gets drier as it wears on, as the smooth cashmere wood kicks in with a little bit of a mossy element. Plus, a small peppery kick.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Seductive Homme Blue is on the softer side of moderate. This isn’t one that will completely take over a room but it is just about right for casual wear.

The longevity of this cologne, sucks though, at least with light spraying. One spray will last somewhere between 20-30 minutes before you have to press your nose to the skin in order to smell anything.

Upon further tries with Blue, if you double up the sprays you can get decent longevity out of it. 4-6 hours, depending on the day. However, it is always a very light fragrance, pretty darn airy.

The good news is that, this is offered at such an affordable price, that you can spray a ton without much concern about having to buy a new bottle.

The original Seductive Homme, has pretty good longevity and better than Blue head to head. So, the fact that this one has problems was a major disappointment.

In terms of who should wear this, it will be best for teenagers and guys in their early 20s. At that age, you can wear it pretty much on any occasion.

Not really a formal scent, but otherwise, you’re good.  Seasonally, it can hold up in all conditions…in terms of the aroma, the longevity still might be mediocre.

Overall Impressions of Seductive Blue

Overall, is Blue worth it? I actually like how it smells better than the original Guess Seductive. However, this one has bad longevity. You could definitely spray more than usual to get it to last longer or reapply it throughout the day.

This could be an absolute steal for the price if it performed better or you don’t really care about having to spray a lot. So, I’d say pick up a bottle for cheap and see how it fares on your skin or find something else within this price range that lasts.

Eau de Lacoste L.12.12. Red

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I picked up a few samples from Lacoste’s L.12.12. line of fragrances, Blanc and Rouge (White and Red), and have been wearing them around for the past few days in order to get a full take on these colognes.

Today, I want to do my review of the Red scent from this collection, which was released in 2012. As usual, I am going to give my thoughts on how it smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a purchase or not.

What does L.12.12 Rouge Smell Like?

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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.

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Eau de Lacoste Red really highlights this fragrance’s uniqueness in the men’s cologne space. It definitely has it’s own feel, which I appreciate, while feeling somewhat familiar and not too far out there.

The mango note which is one of the main stars from the start, really reminds me of something like Polo Black. Although, the mandarin liqueur and tea notes take it in a different direction all together.

Red is really a nice summery scent, which would be great as a casual wear along with one of the brand’s signature polo shirts.

This rouge bottled cologne is quite a bright yet layered experience with the second wave of notes really coming through about 10-15 minutes into the wear.

Ginger and black pepper give Eau de Lacoste Red a nice earthy and spicy kick which provide a great richness to what should just be a basic summer/casual fragrance.

During this stage, the mango and mandarin notes, fall back somewhat and the spices become more pronounced. There is also a cardamom note, which begins to take up a significant portion of the dry down.

This entry in the L.12.12. collection is crisp and warm through the use of spice which sets it apart from a lot of summery colognes which go the ‘cold’ citrus route. It honestly is a pretty unique fragrance, which I’ve got to give Lacoste credit for.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection on Red is pretty good, at least at first. I applied it before heading out to run errands and was loving getting whiffs of it off of my skin. I thought that I’d found a nice summer wear with decent sillage.

However, the longevity of this one, seems to be pretty weak. I actually love the dry down of this scent which is an outdoorsy sort of blend of spice, wood, and fruit…but it is short-lived.

Lacoste Red becomes a skin scent within a couple of hours, in my experience thus far. Sure, if you really load up on it, you’ll get better longevity but it will be really heavy to have to wear at first.

Update: Even after several tests with this fragrance, I’ve gotten the same results. Probably around 5-6 hours max.

L.12.12. Rouge is best as a summer casual cologne. I feel like I could wear this to a work event, school, or out and about during the daytime.

I can’t classify this as a sexy or nightlife kind of fragrance and I would also put it towards the more youthful side of the spectrum.

Overall Impressions of Eau de Lacoste L.12.12 Rouge

Overall, is this one worth a buy? Eh…I like it and think that it smells pretty unique BUT the longevity kind of sucks. If you can grab a bottle for cheap, it might be worth a shot. Maybe, it’s just bad performance due to my skin, and it’d work better on someone else.

I appreciate what Lacoste was going for here but you might be better served by picking up a bottle of Polo Black, which at least has some similarities with L.12.12. Red.

Rouge had a lot of potential to be a nice wear for the summer months. I really do like the scent , the blend of mango and spices works well with each other.

It’s just not enough to warrant paying full price, in my opinion.