By Designer

Tobacco Oud Intense by Tom Ford

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Here’s a sample that I’ve had for probably over six months, at this point, and never got around to giving a proper review. Even though, I’ve worn it in the months it’s been in my possession. Tobacco Oud Intense is the flanker fragrance to the popular Tobacco Oud.

It was released in 2017, as a follow up. So, in this post, I will cover my experiences with Tobacco Oud Intense by Tom Ford. How does it smell? What are the notes? How does it perform? Is it worth a purchase?

What does Tobacco Oud Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: oud, tobacco, amber, cedar, coriander, tonka bean, patchouli, sandalwood, labdanum

Click here to try: Tom Ford Tobacco Oud Intense by Tom Ford, 3.4 oz EDP Spray Unisex

My Full Review

The opening of this fragrance, definitely goes hard with the tobacco and oud note. It has a dark and smokey aroma, with a slight spice, which I take is from the coriander. It’s not an intense smell, in my opinion, but there is just a large abundance of those ingredients.

There is a dirty and outdoorsy undertone, throughout the whole wear. I guess, I should just call it earthy, but it is quite noticeable up top before Tobacco Oud Intense transitions to its next stage.

Underneath this initial layer, and what emerges more and more afterward, is an amber/tonka bean combination. This is when, the perfume starts to get good for me, the sweet smooth notes settling things down. Those two notes really makes the smokiness of the Tobacco Oud Intense, much more tolerable, and it sort of has a leathery quality to it.

Also, during the dry down, I find that the oud isn’t as present. Of course, it’s still there, but I get way more tobacco in the last 3/4’s of this fragrance. The other wood notes (cedar and sandalwood) do sit at the base and create a woodier scent, as it moves along, it’s just not that signature oud scent overpowering everything.

Ultimately, I get a smooth ambery tobacco, with a mix of sweet/smokey and a woodsy base. It’s a warm and very smooth aroma, with a definite masculine edge.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it is fairly intense, but it’s not a crazy monster perfume. For the first few hours, you can definitely choke out a room, if you over-sprayed Tobacco Oud Intense. However, after that, this Tom Ford is more of a strong moderate.

While it’s not super powerful, this one does have a thick, almost enveloping aroma. Fairly complex with a density, common in winter fragrances.

The longevity seems to fall within the 7-9 hour range, again, not crazy but still very good. My skin doesn’t ‘eat up’ perfume, so, this probably about what one should expect. It was kind of surprising, as I would have thought that an intense Oud scent, would have gone on for ages.

Then again, the oud isn’t completely dominant here. Nonetheless, it is no slouch. On clothing, it does indeed last longer, than 9 hours.

Seasonally, it’s strictly for the cooler months of the year. This would be a mess in the heat of the summer. It’s a unisex scent, but it leans much more masculine, than other offerings from this brand.

It feels like something that should be worn at least in a semi-formal situation or business attire. Tobacco Oud Intense isn’t a Tom Ford fragrance for casual wear. Nor is it going to be something for the bar/nightlife scene.

It’s fairly niche and going to mostly appeal to oud fans and those who like these sorts of heavy scents.

Overall Impressions of Tobacco Oud Intense

Overall, do I like Tobacco Oud Intense. I like it for what it is, even if it’s not really my style of fragrance. It smells good, even though, I’m not personally a big oud fan. It does have a smoother and slightly sweeter smell versus the original Tobacco Oud.

If you’re a fan of these notes, this is probably one you’d want to consider. If you already have the original, this is close enough, that you probably don’t need it. Go with Intense, if you enjoy more amber and tonka bean, with a bigger dose of the tobacco note.

It’s not much more powerful or longer lasting. So, it really comes down to the level of sweetness, you enjoy.

6 Best Smelling Liz Claiborne Colognes

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Liz Claiborne is a brand known for producing scents that are very-well liked at a very inexpensive price point. No, this isn’t a Creed or Bond No. 9, where it’s all about the top of the line ingredients and the standing that comes with the name…Claiborne scents just smell really good.

It is a brand that doesn’t make you break the bank to get an attractive scent, which is actually appreciated by many ladies. I am including Lucky Brand in this list, as well.

What are the Best Smelling Liz Claiborne Colognes?

Still the Best

Curve– A scent that has been widely popular for years and for good reason. Curve is a really attractive scent that is so simple in its presentation but amazingly clean.

Curve has been going strong for decades now. This is because, it has a unique aroma at a cheap price and gets complimented like crazy. Juniper, pineapple, and citrus play a role early on, giving it a slight fruitiness.

Then herbal and plant elements come in to give it a boost of freshness and appeal. Ginger and lavender are major players in the latter stages. This is such an easy first time cologne for younger guys. To me, it still gets the top spot. Read my review

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Next in Line

Curve Soul– A deep and darker men’s fragrance then the rest. This is a very unique cologne, with a strong bamboo note, sandalwood, some sweet/spice blend, and a touch of amber and leather.

I’m not sure they produce this one anymore. All of the bottles on the market, that I can find, seem really expensive. Obviously, none of these are worth paying an extraordinary amount for, as they are still just good cheapies.

Curve Soul is probably the second best smelling, in my opinion, and is worth a try if you can find a good price.

Soapy and Green Scent

Lucky You– A fresh green/woodsy type of scent that is a great casual option for younger men. It’s an inexpensive and natural scent with notes of moss, cardamom, and sandalwood.

Lucky You opens up with a really fresh and somewhat soapy mix. It can be difficult to pin down the exact notes of this cologne, but the aroma is at least quite a pleasant experience.

What I start to pick up within the fragrance is a blend of musk, a somewhat grassy ingredient, all sitting on top a woody base (bamboo and tamarind). Those two woods aren’t often used within men’s fragrances, as such, Lucky You produces a rather interesting and engaging wear.

Not my favorite fragrance, but you can usually get it for $10-20 or so. At that price, this is a nice little wear, and definitely one of the best from this brand. Full Review

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Energetic and Smooth for Summer

Mambo– A spring/summery type of fragrance which is smooth and with notes of lime and sandalwood it is clear why. It, like the first two colognes on this list is fresh and clean but Mambo has its own upbeat style to it.

Mambo opens up with its citrus notes on full display. These are joined by both lavender and a light spice. It definitely gives you an energetic and lively feel, that so many scents lack.

The lavender, cedar, and sandalwood take away most of the sharper or sour elements of the citrus notes. Meanwhile, thyme, cinnamon, and patchouli give the cologne its spicy heart.

Mambo is a different sort of scent from most others on the market and provides a great deal of value. This stuff will last on my skin for 8-9 hours, at times. Good for casual wear and nightlife. Mambo Cologne Review

Light and Sweet

Curve Crush– A simple fragrance that works well for guys in high school.  It is a bright and sweet blend of fruity notes like apple and orange that is blended with cedar to give it a masculine center.

This is a youthful scent, so, something for a certain subset of men but it’s still something that smells really good. It is light and clean, but Curve Crush actually has good performance in my experience. I managed to get 6-7 hours of wear, during testing, which is great at this price point. Curve Crush Review

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Best Tropical Fragrance

Bora Bora– A more exotic and masculine type of scent that fuses kiwi, musk, lemon, leather, and other notes to create something wholly delightful. The kiwi is prominent and gives it a tangy kind of sweetness yet still retains that attractive freshness.

Later, the kiwi becomes less of a factor. Leather, woods, and hibiscus flower come in and give it a smoothness while retaining its tropical vibe. It has a light sillage and from that point, this fragrance is pretty linear and its presentation.

Bora Bora is best for casual daytime wear, during the warmer months of the year. It has a clean and woody finish, utilizing that kiwi note to really bring home that island life aroma. Bora Bora Cologne Review

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Polo Red Intense vs Polo Red Cologne Comparison

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All right, it’s finally time for my comparison between Polo Red and its flanker fragrance, Polo Red Intense. I’ve been wanting to do this post for a long while and now have gotten around to giving both a fair shake. In this post, I am going to present how each fragrance smells, how it performs, and which one is the better option between them. Has Polo Ralph Lauren outdone the original Red?

Polo Red Intense vs. Red: Which is better?

Polo Red Tale of the Tape

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Notes of Polo Red: grapefruit, italian lemon, cranberry,amber,coffee, saffron, sage, redwood

Try Polo Red: Ralph Lauren Polo Red Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original review: Polo Red Ralph Lauren Review

Polo Red Intense Tale of the Tape

Notes include: cranberry, grapefruit, coffee, leather, amber, lavender, saffron, ginger, sage, and lemon

Try Polo Red Intense: Ralph Lauren Polo Red Intense for Men 4.2 Oz Edp Spray By Ralph Lauren, 4.2 Fluid Ounce

Read my original review: Polo Red Intense

Opening

Obviously, these scents are very similar to one another since we are comparing the original with the intense version. However, there are some noticeable differences from the start.

First, Red Intense does its job at first, by being more loud and having better projection than the original. Both scents share the sweet candy-like warmth of cranberry, citrus, and amber notes which I really enjoy.

Red Intense gives you a big dose of saffron, coffee, and some spices up top. This separates is a lot from the tart opening of Polo Red and its cranberry/lemon duo. Red Intense still does have that big sweetness, however, just different.

Red Intense also has a noticeable leather note and ginger which becomes more prominent as it wears on. I like the Intense version here, as it has taken something great, and made it darker and perhaps more interesting.

(Edit: Polo has released Polo Red Extreme, which I reviewed and gives you a third option..and possibly the best of the bunch)

Edge: Intense

Projection

Again, the Intense version wins (as it should), it does a much better job from the start projecting itself and not being on the weaker side of things like Polo Red.

I should note that while Polo Red Intense is heavier than the original, it isn’t really a beast itself. In fact, it loses some of it’s initial luster after 30-45 minutes.

Polo Red Intense does come out of the gate as powerful, but is more moderate, during the rest of the wear.

Edge: Intense

Longevity

This has always been my biggest qualm with Polo Red, its longevity. I love the smell but it can be such a short lived scent, which is really disappointing.

Polo Red Intense is better in this department but it hasn’t been an insane type of wear either. I’d say it’s in the upper moderate range but provides pretty solid wear.

With Red Intense I get about 7-9 hours of solid wear from it. Polo Red can be in the 4-7-ish hour range, depending on the day and climate.

Edge: Intense

Versatility

Pretty much the same in terms of when you can wear it, where, etc. I might say, that Polo Red is more appropriate in low key scenarios, but its not a wide enough margin to make a real difference.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I’m a fan of the original Polo Red, I just hated it longevity issues. Polo Red Intense improves upon that while keeping mostly true to the original.

Intense is a darker and spicier cologne, with the ginger note providing a nice touch an hour or so in. Polo Red is a very sweet, warm cologne, with woody undertones while Intense amps the cranberry note up and then brings in ginger and a masculine leather.

All in all it’s very well done and sexy. I’ve got to give the ultimate nod to Polo Red Intense. Still, I’m not a huge fan of Intense, and the original Red has lost some of its luster for me over the years. My real pick is Red Extreme, but the other two are still both pretty good.

Winner: Polo Red Intense

Best Vanilla Scented Colognes for Men

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Vanilla is a popular note used in fragrances for both men and women. Frankly, I love the way it can add a sweet smoothness when used correctly in scents. Vanilla can be a very seasonal type of note when it is predominately featured in a fragrance and I think you’ll find most of the colognes on this list would probably best serve you during the cooler months of the year.  I have included 8 selections on this list and of course there are more out there but I feel that these are the best of the bunch.

Vanilla Colognes: What are the Best Perfumes for Men?

Top Luxury Vanilla Fragrance

Creed Sublime Vanille Cologne for Men 8.4 oz Eau De Parfum– So, let’s start out with this hyper-expensive entry from Creed. Sublime Vanille has one of, if not, the best vanilla notes that I have ever smelled in a fragrance. It’s fantastic.

It’s sweet and creamy, mixed with tonka bean during the dry down period. Sublime Vanille opens with citrus notes, which gives it a nice orange creamsicle vibe.

The citrus note fades a bit as it moves on and there is an emergence of a soft musk note which adds depth to the composition. Sublime Vanille is more of a unisex scent and once it gets going, it’s pretty linear in its aroma throughout the rest of the wear.

This Creed is soft and airy, good for casual or dressed up styles. Again, this one is a high end scent, but the vanilla doesn’t get much better (if at all) than what’s in here. Here is my full wear review.

Best Overall Cologne with a Vanilla Led Blend

Giorgio Armani Code Absolu EDP Eau de Parfum For Men 3.7oz– Code Absolu has become my favorite issuance from this Armani line. The vanilla, comes along heavier later in the wear, and is joined by a host of smooth and spicy ingredients. 

Code Absolu opens up with nutmeg, rum, suede, and tonka bean. There is also a hint of citrus and crisp apple, in the background. The spice of the nutmeg is dominant for a few minutes, before the suede and tonka bean really take over.

The fresh spice here is great, nutmeg and rum, are surprisingly great together. The fruit notes, are also just strong enough, to prevent it being a completely dark fragrance.

This one is fresh, warm, with a nice sweetness from vanilla and tonka bean. The projection is strong, but not absurdly so, and the longevity consistently hits 10+ hours, on my skin. Code Absolu Full Review

Top Nightlife/Youthful Vanilla Blend

Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male Eau de Toilette Intense 40ml Spray– Originally, I had Le Male, on this list. However, that was before the release of Ultra Male by Jean Paul Gaultier. This flanker fragrance to the original, takes what was great about it, and does it even better.

A warm and spicy aroma highlighted by vanilla and pear notes, which gives it a sweet and candy-like edge. I have a full bottle of Ultra Male and it is a fragrance that I wore pretty much all winter in 2018.

The mint and cinnamon combination adds a very nice spice to the uber sweet arrangement. This JPG scent delivers very good sillage and I’ve always gotten around 9 hours of solid wear from it. This is a colder weather scent, that is sexy, and built for the nightlife. Ultra Male is great, upbeat, and a worthy successor to the original Le Male. Ultra Male Full Review

Best Vanilla and Tobacco Blend

TOM FORD Tobacco Vanille Eau de Parfum 50 ML(1.7 OZ)– A high performing giant in the world of fragrance. Tobacco Vanille is obviously highlighted by those two notes, but it’s excellent blend of sweetness and spiciness is what really sets it apart.

Expensive? Yes, but it delivers an experience that is all its own. This is masculine, refined, and a fragrance that really shines in the winter time.

This is another one, like Sublime Vanille, that features an absolutely divine vanilla note. It’s very realistic and smells utterly perfect to my nose. Add to the two main notes, you get a lovely cacao, fruits, and creamy tonka bean.

The scent is also quite dry and doesn’t have a ‘juicy’ fruit sensation. Overall, it is super sweet and spicy, while being a performance scent that will last and project for ages. Tobacco Vanille Review

Best Daily Wear Designer Vanilla

Pi By Givenchy For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces– A sweet yet woody fragrance with vanilla and almond notes. It has a fresh and somewhat powdery dry down with the tonka bean note and a resinous benzoin.

Pi can be a great go to fragrance for a guy who wants something affordable that can be worn every day (outside of the hottest months). What I really like about this Givenchy cologne, is it’s subtle earthiness and herbal qualities that lie just underneath the vanilla sweetness.

Pi is a rich and very cozy scent to wear on the coldest days. It’s sensual powdered dry down and that great little almond addition, always seem to draw complements. It has been around for a few decades at this point and still has legions of fans, who swear by the power of Pi.

pi

Great Exotic Use of Vanilla

Opium By Yves Saint Laurent For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces
A spicy and oriental type of fragrance which is soothed by the vanilla note that plays a supporting role to the anise and peppery elements. Solid performer and one of the first colognes I ever bought.

There are those warm sort of smoky elements that create an interesting take on the usual, sugary kind of vanilla colognes.

It’s profile overall, is that of the orient. Opium is mysterious and has a sort of ancient charm to the aroma, its resinous and spicy. The whole thing envelopes you skin and the vanilla note is in the heart of it all. I wish that I had more of my vintage bottle of this Yves Saint Laurent classic. My Opium Pour Homme Review

opium

The Easy to Wear, Crowd Pleaser

Hugo Boss Men’s Boss No. 6 Eau de Toilette Natural Spray, 3.3 fl. oz.

A moderate fragrance with woodsy notes that is great for casual wear. The apple, cinnamon, and vanilla give Boss No. 6 a sweet yet crisp aroma. This is a good one for those who want a vanilla based scent that is blended with other notes and can be worn as an everyday sort of cologne.

Boss No. 6 is a fairly inexpensive choice and has a gourmand sensability. Its sweetness is like that of baked goods: warm and tasty. The wood notes emerge led by sandalwood and mahogany to give this Hugo Boss scent, more masculine depth.

It all comes together as light, a bit powdery, and spicy cologne with that lovable vanilla note sitting in the thick of it. Boss No. 6 Review

Awesome Sweet Smelling Vanilla Perfume

Acqua Di Parma Blue Mediterraneo Mandorlo Di Sicilia Eau de Toilette Spray, 5 Ounce–  Almond and vanilla are paired to create a warm and lightly enveloping aroma, that has a sweet candy-like quality. Mandorlo di Sicilia is a unisex scent, but can be a great colder weather wear for men.

This one reminds me of these little root beer candies, that I ate sometimes, as a child. Orange, almond, and the vanilla come together to give it a sweet, somewhat nutty, fizziness.

Akin to carbonation. Mandorlo is fresh and dries down, mostly as vanilla, with a powdered sugar quality. The sillage is fairly light, but it can last for 6-7 hours, on my skin.  My Full Review is Here

5 Best Smelling Thierry Mugler Colognes for Men

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Thierry Mugler has been a best selling designer in women’s fragrances for a long time with such hits as Alien and Angel. However, the design house’s men’s fragrance line also has some gems in its midst, that seem to go unappreciated sometimes. For this post, I want to take a look at some of these Thierry Mugler colognes to represent what I feel are the best options for guys out of the bunch. Best Men’s Colognes Homepage

 

What are the Best Smelling Mugler Fragrances for Men?

Angel By Thierry Mugler For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray Rubber Bottle 3.4 OZ– This one is sweet. Like, really sweet, long lasting, and heavy. However, it is also a very great fragrance if you like gourmand notes such as caramel, coffee, honey, etc.

A*Men has more patchouli, early on than the other entries on this list. It is paired with those sweet notes, to create a wonderful and masculine gourmand. The patchouli is there for the entire wear and is fantastic within this framework. Coffee and caramel are the longer term sweet notes, which stick around, and this all sits on top of a woody base of sandalwood and cedar. A*Men is, I believe, the most popular and best selling of the men’s Mugler line. 

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Thierry Mugler A Men Ultra Zest Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce– This Mugler scent is really underrated. It opens with a great mix of orange and tangerine. It’s juicy with an underlying blend of patchouli and coffee, pulling it all together.

The secondary wave is of mint, tonka bean, and vanilla. This allows for a sweet, fresh, and creamy aroma that is downright delicious. I get about 7 hours of wear with moderate sillage. It’s good to wear in either the summer or winter. It’s not being made anymore, but Ultra Zest is still available online, for a decent price. I really enjoyed this one. Ultra Zest Review

 

Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler Eau De Toilette Spray (Limited Edition) for Men, 3.40 Ounce– Fruity, malt, and woodsy notes make for an interesting fragrance. It doesn’t come across nearly as strong as the original Angel but that is a good thing for some people. The whiskey note gives it a warmth that is absolutely beautiful in the winter.

This smoky and boozy blend, is possibly my favorite Mugler scent to wear. It’s somewhat limited to the colder weather, but it is utterly great, during that time frame.  Fruits, vanilla, malt, and patchouli kick this one off. Later it gets fruitier, boozier, creamy, and woody. Strong sillage, but not overbearing with a good performance in terms of longevity. Pure Malt Full Review

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Angel B Men By Thierry Mugler For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray Rubber Bottle 1.7 Ounce
I have softened on my stance of not liking this cologne very much, from my original review. Since then, I have come to appreciate its dark spiciness, even if I still don’t like licorice notes. Overall, it’s a very good masculine scent for the right guy.

B Men has been discontinued, but it is still underrated, and not well know. Though, it is still available. The spices remind me of Pure Malt’s in a lot of ways, but B Men doesn’t have the booziness or same level of sweetness. I really dig the dry down, where you get a great earthy/woody group of notes, which pairs amazingly with the spices. Well worth a try, if you can pick up a bottle for a decent price. 

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Thierry Mugler Eau de Toilette Spray, Angel Men Pure Havane, 3.4 Ounce– A good tobacco based scent that is softened by the honey, cocoa, and vanilla notes. The tobacco itself is a sweeter kind while remaining masculine. Pure Havane is a fantastic fall/winter cologne.

This is another one of my personal favorites. Usually, I am back and forth between this and Pure Malt. It is like rolled tobacco dipped in honey and vanilla. Sweet, warm, with that light honey stickiness.  The patchouli adds a little bit more depth, but Pure Havane is pretty straightforward. Again, it is pretty limited and not for those in a hot climate, but it is an outstanding perfume. Read my full Review

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