By Designer

Polo by Ralph Lauren Men’s Cologne Review

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I have already covered the best smelling men’s fragrances by Ralph Lauren and have done several reviews on this brand’s colognes. However, I have until now neglected to do a review of one of the originals which dates back to the late 1970s, Polo by Ralph Lauren.

In this post, I want to take a closer look at this now classic men’s scent and determine how it performs, what it smells like, what notes it contains, when it should be worn, and if it is really worth a purchase at all. My Reviews of: Polo Red, Double Black, and Polo Blue. 

Polo by Ralph Lauren Overview

Notes include: basil, leather, tobacco, oakmoss, pine, cedar, and more.

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Click here to try:Polo by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau de Toilette Natural Spray, 4-Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

What strikes me about the opening of Polo is how dry and masculine it is. That isn’t a bad thing, this is classically masculine, so don’t expect sweet fruits and floral notes like so many more modern examples.

It’s an interesting mix of pine and leather notes which gives it a rich, grassy/green type of aroma, that feels quite complex and dark. I completely dig it as a change of pace from the norm.

After 20 minutes or so of that initial blast, Polo begins its transformation into more of a tobacco laden cologne with a distinct patchouli note poking through. This drydown phase is warm and smoky and still retains that dry woodsy element that makes the opening so intriguing.

Projection wise, Polo is a pretty heavy fragrance, so 1-2 sprays max. This one can fill a room if you’re not careful and it will take it from pleasant to overbearing.

Longevity wise, this stuff is really damn good, 8+ hours for each use in my experience. I would stay away from wearing Polo in the summer or on any warm day really, as it doesn’t hold up that well and seems out of place.

However, during the fall and into the winter, this is when Polo really shines.

Overall, is Polo worth a purchase? This one is for the older set. Not that younger guys couldn’t pull it off in some cases, but I’d say, 30 and up is your best bet.

So, yes, if you are in that age group and want something that a change of pace from the usual sweet type of fragrances, then Polo is a terrific choice which lasts a long time and performs great as a casual and everyday cologne.

Blv Pour Homme by Bvlgari

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In my long list of men’s fragrance reviews on this site, I have already tackled one Bvlgari cologne, and today I’d like to turn my attention to another, Blv. Blv is a casual scent for men released back in 2001 and like other scents from the brand, it is both affordable and has a really specific aroma that separates it from many other offerings.

Is that enough to make Blv a buy? How does it perform? What’s it smell like? Please continue reading below for my take on Blv.

Blv Overview

Notes include: sandalwood, juniper berries, cedar, ginger, cardamom

Click here to try: Bvlgari Blv By Bvlgari For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Oz.

My Full Review

Blv upon its opening strikes me as a rather unique scent for something that is a mainstream daily wear fragrance. It’s slightly sweet/citrus with an overtone of spice provided by the ginger note.

The ginger does get overshadowed by that cardamom, which only heightens the initial spicy profile of this fragrance. It seems to be the ‘lemony’ smelling sort of cardamom like Wanted by Azzaro, but not nearly as prominent.

Behind all that, sits a woodsy and fresh aroma that is down right pleasant. Blv in many regards is almost a perfect casual scent.

With Blv I get the same ‘dry’ type of scent that I do with Bvlgari Man, except more of a clean/powdery smell than that one. Yes, it does have a bit of a ‘baby wipes’ aroma at times, but not exactly.

Tobacco blossom and juniper give this one an aromatic and greenish profile during the middle especially.

In fact, Blv leans more towards the unisex side of fragrances, not that it’s really all that feminine but women could definitely pull this one off if they wanted to.

It’s quite a subtle scent, that isn’t too complex in that it doesn’t change all that much from the first 15 minutes of wear. Yes, less spicy and more woody. But, Blv is a clean aromatic scent with some nice highlights of spice.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is fairly light to moderate. This isn’t a cologne that’s going to bog you down with a thick or heavy feeling. Nor is it going to be one that’s absolutely jumping off of the skin.

It hangs around well enough. Though, it isn’t a fragrance that is going to be radiating across a room with its power.

In terms of longevity, it’ll get a solid 6 hours and maybe more depending on the conditions its being worn in. It’s not a projection beast, as I said, it’s subtle. But, you might get 7 hours from this Bvlgari cologne at times.

That isn’t a bad thing in this case, as it begs to be worn during the daytime as an office/school wear. It’s very versatile within that frame. It can go casual or semi-formal and it’s a low key aroma that can fit in almost anywhere.

Not too much of a date night fragrance or one that will command attention (although it will draw complements). It’s a pretty unique scent, while being familiar enough, that isn’t offensive and does its job well.

Seasonally, this one can be worn pretty much whenever. Spring through autumn is when it would be at it’s best. I like it more in the warmer weather than anything approaching freezing temperatures.

Overall Impressions of Blv

Is Blvgari Blv worth a purchase? Fragrance wise, yes, it smells really nice.

It’s got a great blend of spice and powder. But, the woods and even slight creaminess make this one interesting to me, even with Blv’s simplicity.

I think that they might have stopped making this at one point, because for a while it became pretty difficult to find.

Now, I’m seeing it around a lot more and the price isn’t too bad.

Terre d’Hermes vs Creed Aventus Cologne Comparison

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In this installment of my ongoing series of men’s fragrance comparisons, I want to tackle two relatively popular scents, Creed Aventus and Terre D’Hermes. I am going to break down each, see how they perform, and ultimately which I think is the better buy. Of course, fragrance is ultimately a subjective experience, so while I will share mine this may not hold true for someone else.

Creed Aventus Tale of the Tape

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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

Terre D’Hermes Tale of the Tape

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Notes include: mineral note, Grapefruit, bay rose, pepper, geranium, Atlas cedar, benzoin, patchouli, vetiver, orange.

Click here for my original review

Opening

Gahhhhhh, this one is difficult. I’m not a fan of either fragrances opening. To me, Aventus is too harsh at the start, like lemon Pine Sol. On the other hand, Terre D’Hermes is rather earthy, with a strong orange note that is quite bitter. Which opening impression is better? Neither.

Edge: Push

Projection

Both of these colognes have really good projection. But I have to give the slight edge to the Creed scent. Though, Terre D’Hermes is by no means ‘weak’.

Edge: Aventus

Longevity

Much like the projection, these two scents are really neck and neck. I get 7-10 hours from each cologne with no let down at all.

Edge: Push

Versatility

I do think that Creed Aventus is best worn during the spring and summer months due to its citrus content. Terre D’Hermes, while it contains an orange note, is more earthy/smoky/woodsy in its presentation and would be best served as a autumn/winter type of fragrance. However, Aventus wouldn’t be entirely out of place in the cooler months of the year, while the Hermes cologne just wouldn’t hold up as a summertime scent.

Edge: Aventus

Overall Scent

While I’m not a fan of either one of these fragrances openings, I am a fan of Aventus overall while I’m none to hot on Terre D’Hermes. I absolutely hate the orange note in the Hermes scent, it’s bitter and struck me as sort of rotten. I know many people enjoy it but orange is just one of those notes that bother me when it’s prominent. I think it’s presented well in a inexpensive scent like Nautica Voyage but in Terre D’Hermes, it just bothers me. The dry down of the Hermes is much better than the opening but it just isn’t something that I am impressed with…just my opinion.

So, I think that Aventus is the better smelling cologne. However, if you want something with more of a mature spice, Terre D’Hermes might be worth a look. Also, price is a factor here too, Creed scents aren’t cheap.

Winner: Aventus

Best Tonka Bean Scented Colognes for Men

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Tonka bean is a note which is commonly used within men’s fragrances and helps to give the scent a sweet and smooth profile. In this post, I want to explore some cologne options for guys which feature a prominent use of tonka bean. As always, I have linked each scent out to Amazon for further information and ease of purchase.

 

 

L’homme Yves Saint Laurent By Yves Saint Laurent For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3-Ounces
Ginger is the big star of the Yves Saint Laurent fragrance. However, the tonka bean in the heart of the fragrance provides a smooth sweetness and helps to make this one special. L’Homme Review

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Angel By Thierry Mugler For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray Rubber Bottle 3.4 OZ
A bold and quite powerful gourmand fragrance from Thierry Mugler.

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Armani Code By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 4.2 Oz.
A masculine blend of citrus, leather, tobacco, and tonka bean. The latter three notes create an aroma that is so alluring and smooth with a slight kick. Armani Code Review

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Prada Luna Rossa SPORT Eau de Toilette Spray 3.4 oz
Man, this fragrance smells so awesome. It’s another use of vanilla and tonka bean which performs very well and isn’t too heavy. My Luna Rossa Sport Review

 

BURBERRY Brit for Men Eau de Toilette, 1.0 fl. oz
Smooth, powdery, and somewhat spicy. Brit is one of my favorite casual colognes during certain times of the year. It seems Burberry is just amazing at creating Fall and Winter scents. My Full Burberry Brit Review

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Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce
Tonka bean is one of the multitude of notes which makes Versace Eros tick. It is extremely rich, complex, warm, and powerful. Eros Full Review

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Givenchy Play Intense by Givenchy for Men – 3.3 Ounce EDT Spray
A fresh gourmand scent whose two main players are the coffee and tonka bean notes. Warm and slightly spicy and best for a cold winter’s day.

Axe Peace Shower Gel Fragrance Review

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It’s been a while since I have done a fragrance review on the site, so I thought that I’d do another overview from the Axe line of shower gels. In today’s post, I’d like to take a closer look at Axe’s scent, Peace for men.

 

 

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Notes include: musk, woods, fruit zest

Axe Peace Body Spray for Men, 4 Oz (3 Pack)

 

Axe Peace is a pretty interesting scent, at least as far as body washes are concerned. It has a bit of an aquatic, almost summertime feel to it, which I would venture a guess that the ‘fruit zest’ notes provide. I can’t quite detect what fruit note it is but it seems like a subtle citrus, nothing too sweet or overpowering but very clean.

The longevity of this scent actually seems better than the other scent in the Axe line. The body wash can still be detected on my skin hours later and it actually does a good job of projecting for a solid time period as well. I imagine the body spray probably would be a pretty long lasting scent as well.

How would I rank Peace versus the other Axe fragrances? I would put this one near the top. It would totally depend what you’re in the mood for but if you want something that is fresh, not too sweet, and masculine this one would do the trick. The clean citrus notes are joined by the warmth/spiciness of the musk note as well as a woody heart that gives it that air of masculinity. This is definitely a pleasant smelling scent and for what it is, worth a try.