By Price

Joop! Homme by Joop

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Joop! Homme has been around since 1989 and has managed to maintain its popularity among men ever since. The name kind of threw me off of it the first time I encountered this fragrance, but I was quickly won over when I found out what it smelled like.

Joop! is not only a great scent and has a name that exclaims itself but it is also very affordable, which is something many guys are looking for in a fragrance.

Though, it’s inexpensiveness, doesn’t coincide with any weakness in this sharp men’s scent. With all that in mind, I wanted to take a bit of a closer look at this floral based men’s cologne and break down what makes it worth trying out.

Other pages to take a look at: Best Colognes Under $30, Top Long Lasting Fragrances

What does Joop! Pour Homme Smell Like?

Notes include: orange blossom, vanilla, cinnamon, mandarin, amber, cedar, jasmine, bergamot, lily, heliotrope, tonka bean, patchouli, and sandalwood

Click here to try:  Joop Pour Homme Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

Joop! Homme is an interesting fragrance. Not only because of the name and its exclamation point, but also because it is a masculine floral scent.

Many of the more masculine florals are toned down, but not Joop!, it opens with a bang, and can be in your face and even insufferable to some folks.

This is not the kind of cologne that will appeal to everyone, it’s brash, it’s sweet, and it can be a lot to take for the first hour plus of wear. That being said, I love this stuff, at times.

Joop! Homme opens up with an intense spice, led by cinnamon and patchouli. It’s also warmed by amber and has a few sharp citrus notes poking through. Brace yourself, this is where it can be a pretty intense experience.

It’s spicy, syrupy sweet, and floral with a bit of honeyed essence in there to boot. There is a vanilla note that is quite prominent, but it is dominated by the spices in here for the first couple of hours of wear.

This purple/pinkish juice surprisingly has a dark edge, especially when considering the list of ingredients. Yes, it’s sweet but it has quite a deep composition, and a definite masculine side. The floral notes are nice, I personally enjoy orange blossom in scents, as well as jasmine.

Those two, are fairly commonplace in men’s colognes, but heliotrope is sort of the wildcard in Joop! These floral notes begin to really emerge during the dry down period as some of the spiciness begins to subside and the sweet syrupy aroma takes hold.

You get peaks of the sandalwood and cedar, which help give it a woodsy base from which to build off of. However, it is ultimately a cinnamon/vanilla floral, that is smooth and warm but opens with a big spice. Is it for everyone? Nope. But there are plenty of folks who will love it.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Joop! Homme is very strong. Now, I want to note that with long-selling fragrances, reformulations happen.

Sometimes, the companies change the formula to save money, and sometimes things change due to regulations.

The vintage Joop! is insanely strong, like, top tier all-time in terms of being a powerhouse for a mainstream scent.

Nowadays, it still has great sillage but lots of EU regulations, have cut much of the heart out of Joop! The last bottle that I purchased, still was plenty powerful, and had good longevity in the 7-9 hour range with just 2 sprays.

Seasonally, this one is a cold weather star. It can also do most of the springtime, but in the summer, it’s always felt too messy to my nose.

Is it versatile? Sort of. It can be really brash and not always the best option for close quarters.

I once wore it to work and a female co-worker of mine commented on how ‘damn spicy’ it was. Haha. So, yeah, maybe go with one spray at work or school. However, it’s been a club beast since its release, and still works there up to today.

Joop! has an aroma that is more suited to a younger man, think teens and twenties. I’ve pretty much outgrown it and don’t currently own a bottle, but I think I’d still wear it, if I didn’t already have countless bottles and samples of other stuff lying around for this website.

Some women are going to hate this, while others absolutely love it. I’ve experienced all sorts of reactions while wearing it. This is such a love or hate it type of cologne.

Overall Impressions of Joop! Pour Homme

Overall, Joop! is a fragrance that begs to be worn by a confident man. It has a certain energy to it and it always seems to draw women towards the guy wearing it or repel, based on their tastes.

It is a strong cologne, so, not too much is needed for the desired effect, but that’s a good thing anyways as you won’t have to buy new bottles constantly.

I love the boldness, the periods of spiciness, the vanilla, and the floral notes which aren’t too common in a men’s fragrance. Plus, it delivers total performance, at a cheap price point.

It’s not my favorite fragrance ever, but it’s one that I definitely had my time enjoying when I was younger. I don’t  have a bottle anymore. Though, I suppose that could be possible in the future.

If you are looking for a bold and sexy fragrance, then you may want to give Joop! a tryout. It’s really a throwback to the 1980s and has a unique vibe that you still won’t find with many men’s scents.

It’s not always beloved, but Joop! Homme can still bring the intensity, and has a place in many men’s collection.

Creed Aventus vs Imperial Millesime Comparison

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Deciding which fragrance to buy can be tricky sometimes, as there are a multitude of factors from which to consider. This can become especially true when the colognes that you are considering cost in the triple digits to buy.

It is one thing to purchase a crummy scent that was $20 for the bottle versus one which was $175+. Creed is a luxury boutique brand known for its high quality ingredients and beautifully crafted scents.

In this post, I want to do a bit of a comparison between two options from Creed, Aventus vs Imperial Millesime and break down which will be the better option for most people and highlight the pros and cons of each.

Tale of the Tape: Aventus vs. Imperial Millesime

 

Creed Aventus 

creed aventus

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

Click here to get Aventus: Aventus by Creed

Creed Imperial Millesime

Notes include: Lemon, Iris, Green Bergamot, Mandarin

My original review of Imperial

Click here to try Imperial Millesime: Creed Imperial

Opening 

The opening of Aventus can be a pretty harsh citrus to deal with. I don’t really like the opening of Aventus and if all I’d have to go by was the first 15 minutes or so, I’d think that this fragrance wasn’t worth wearing. The pineapple, blackcurrant, and the dryness of birch can be a bit much at first.

However, the fragrance settles down into something much more enjoyable and fresh. The next wave has less of the pineapple, more birch/oak moss, and some sweetness provided by a light vanilla and French apple. 

Meanwhile, the opening of Imperial is much smoother, with a wonderful melon type of scent that blends with sea salt to create something quite pleasant.

The melon-like smell is like a blend of a standard melon and a bit of watermelon. This is paired with a salty aquatic note, which is why I suppose it comes across smelling that way. It’s actually lemon and mandarin orange, as the notes, and not any watermelon. 

Anyway, Imperial Millesime is juicy, musky, and very bright in the opening stages. Which scent is better? To me, I greatly prefer the start to Imperial, more than I ever have Aventus. 

Edge: Imperial Millesime

Projection

Neither one of these fragrances is slipping in quality when it comes to projection. Aventus never really requires more than two sprays while Imperial is no slouch either. Aventus is the stronger of the two and I’d say it projects more than Imperial does.

So, both start strong, but Aventus reaches the higher heights of sillage and keeps at it for longer. 

Edge: Aventus

Longevity

Wearing both of these colognes, I haven’t noticed a difference in terms of how long they last. I usually get 7-10 hours of solid performance out of each. Mostly, Aventus will go 8 or 9 hours on my skin, a bit less when it’s hot out.

Imperial is usually around 7 or 8 hours, but can last better in the heat than can Aventus. It can also reach that 10 hour mark, on occasion, like Aventus. No clear winner, in my experience. 

Edge: Push

Versatility

Creed Aventus is best worn in the spring and autumn, in my opinion. I don’t think that it holds up well in the heat, but early summer isn’t bad. On the other hand, Imperial Millesime is great for summertime wear as well as the warmer months of spring.

However, Aventus can be pulled off rather well in the winter months, to whereas Imperial would seem out of place in the cold weather.

As far as, on what occasion each of these scents could be worn, I’d say that they could arguably be worn anywhere for any event. I wouldn’t really call Imperial a date night type of cologne though and even if I’d wear other scents besides Aventus on a night out, it could be done well. 

I much prefer Imperial, as a daytime wear, in more casual situations. Overall, I’d say Aventus has the greater versatility. 

Edge: Aventus

 

 

Overall Scent

Aventus develops into something that is woodsy/masculine/leathery and the citrus notes become undertones as the fragrances wears on. Meanwhile, Imperial has that unique fruity quality blended with salt notes that just reminds me of the summer and the ocean.

I actually like Imperial better in terms of its smell, BUT I think that most men would be better served by Aventus out of the two.

I say this simply because of its greater versatility of being worn. Imperial Millesime is a great signature type of scent, but I feel that it does have its limitations.

Aventus fits in better, during more situations and climates. Imperial is rather straightforward, but has a really delightful salty melon aroma. Aventus is deeper with greater nuance.

These two are pretty neck and neck, in my book, but most would go with Aventus.  I have grown sort of tired of the formula, as there have been endless Creed Aventus ‘dupes’ coming to market over the years.

Winner: Aventus (for most guys)

Adidas Deep Energy Cologne Review

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Most of the colognes which I have reviewed thus far on this site have been of the more expensive variety. Designer fragrances do come at a premium price and while you do sometimes get what you pay for, there are still great colognes at inexpensive prices. One cologne that I want to highlight today is Adidas’ Deep Energy.

This eau de toilette, sells for right around $10 and can provide a great value for guys looking to smell good. While it isn’t the best cologne on the market, Deep Energy is surprisingly pleasant for something so inexpensive. Update: It’s discontinued.

What does Adidas Deep Energy Smell Like?

adidas_deep_energy

Deep Energy Notes: mandarin, bergamot, green apple, cardamon, lavender, musk and woods

My Full Review

I first got my bottle of Deep Energy in a gift set of 3 Adidas fragrances. I didn’t particularly care for the other two scents, but I did find Deep Energy to be a relative steal at the price.

This cologne is a sporty one, and not one that will necessarily, be the best choice for going out on a date or something like that. Although, I suppose you could if you had no other options.

It opens up with a citrus blast of mandarin orange and bergamot, with a crisp green apple, putting itself within the mix. From the start, there is a musky undertone that is present, but it never struck me as being too heavy.

As it dries down further, it can become more difficult to distinguish between the individual fruit smells, because they do sort of blend into one.

After a quick opening act, the lavender note really starts to kick in, and is joined by a cedar wood base. It’s soothing and fresh, while still retaining that sporty edge, which Adidas is known for.  I really like how it smells at this stage, as the blend isn’t overly fruity, but does have a nice crisp and pleasant aroma.

Energy is in the product title and it definitely lives up to the moniker. The mandarin and green apple notes within this fragrance, help to make it an invigorating choice.

While many other cheaper colognes, can tend to overpower, Deep Energy is one that is subtle yet stands out as a unique and pleasant experience.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it is pretty moderate for the opening hour, and then the sillage is closer to the skin. It isn’t completely weak, but a cologne that is more light and refreshing, than constantly demanding attention.

The longevity has always been good for me. Well, I mean, good for something at this price point. It’ll go for up to 6 hours or so, before fading. That’s not bad at all, when you consider that re-application won’t cost a bunch of money.

I’ve mostly worn this fragrance at work or out around town while running errands. Due to its price, Deep Energy is a good choice as an everyday cologne, that can be worn on days where you don’t want to use up the more expensive designer fragrances you might own.

It’s sporty and light enough for gym wear. Most of all, it’s a nice choice for younger guys who are still in school, and need something simple and fresh.

Deep Energy has a bit of spice to it which helps to give it a comforting warmth, from a very light cardamom note, which is persistent throughout.

Unlike something such as Opium Pour Homme, this Adidas cologne has its subtle spice paired with woodsy notes and fruity notes like green apple.

Overall Impressions of Deep Energy

I rather like Deep Energy as sort of a starter cologne or one that can be worn in casual situations because it is a overall nice smell. I have gotten plenty of complements while wearing it, and it is also fairly long-lasting, which is even a better value.

Is it amazing? No, but, it is a nice little fragrance that you don’t really need to think about before applying. It isn’t offensive, it is clean, and gets the job done.

If you’re in the market for an inexpensive cologne, definitely check out Deep Energy, again it’s only $10 or thereabouts, so it won’t break the bank.

Update: This has been discontinued for years now. The secondary market, seems to have sold off most of the excess bottles and the price has shot up. Don’t pay insane prices for this.

Curve by Liz Claiborne

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One of the most popular fragrances for men on the market, always seems to be Curve by Liz Claiborne. Yes, this cologne always sits among the list of best sellers and has developed quite a following for itself since its 1996 release.

Why? Is it because it is the most complex scent out there? No, it’s a rather simple fragrance that blends its notes nicely. Is it the most masculine? Again, no.

Quite simply, Curve is just a great smelling cologne which is available at a very affordable price. In this post, I want to take a bit of a closer look at Curve and examine what makes it so good.

What does Curve by Liz Claiborne Smell Like?

Notes include: fresh greens, pepper, lemon, pineapple, neroli, lavender, sage, cactus, sandalwood, juniper, ginger, cedar, amber, mahogany and water

Click here to try: Curve By Liz Claiborne For Men. Cologne Spray 6.8 oz

My Full Wear Review

Curve became absolute legend when it was released back in the 90s. I remember that my dad used to wear this for a while and I thought it smelled fantastic.

It opens up with a blend of lemon, pineapple, and some neroli. It’s got a nice citrus zest, is a bit sharp, but flanked by spicy notes like ginger, pepper, and sage.

The opening is quite lemony and the pineapple is very noticeable as well, the spice notes are none too heavy, but are prominent during the early stages.

After that initial bit, Curve really gets going with the lavender note. That is probably the most important aspect of this fragrance and gives the composition its fresh and clean disposition. Curve smells sweet and warm, with bits of light coolness, breathing through the middle of the cologne.

Still, the citrus top notes are the main attractions, and when paired with that lavender note, it is great. This Liz Claiborne fragrance also features a cactus note, much like Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger, does.

It must have been a thing in the late 90s to add cactus to popular scents, perhaps, that is the secret to their success.

During the dry down, the woody base emerges, led by the mahogany note. There is also some non-distinct sandalwood and cedar lurking in the back, but mahogany is the strongest. So, you have a super fresh ctirus/green scent with light spices/musk and a woody base.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Curve never really had a huge sillage to me, it could start off fairly strong but would sink into a lighter moderate area. That’s about what one should expect. Not a powerhouse, but a very nice value play.

The longevity is around 5-7 hours on my skin, not much more than that. However, with a scent like this, it’s really all you need much of the time. If you want something longer lasting, you will most likely move to something more upscale.

Seasonally, it reminds me of spring, but really it’s a year round cologne. It can be worn casually, at work, school, or out on a date. This stuff will always get complements, I’m convinced of that fact.

It’s probably best for younger men, but all ages could wear it. If you need something fancier or more formal, Curve isn’t going to be the one. As a fresh aromatic cheapie? It’s great.

You can get it for cheap, but it will still get more positive reactions than many of the higher end fragrances for men. I don’t know what it is, but I cannot honestly disagree, as I love the way this smells.

That’s not to say that it will outshine all designer colognes, but it for sure punches above its weight class.

Overall Impressions of Curve

Curve is a great starter cologne for guys in high school up through college. Heck, I’d still wear it, if I had a bottle right now. It’s not my favorite fragrance of all time or anything, but you cannot really deny the power that this stuff has had for over 20 years.

Women love it. Like, it is unreasonable the attention that a simple cheapie like this brings, but it’s worth every penny. If you want something fresh, clean, and attractive for cheap…it’s not something you can go wrong with.

Less of a sexy smell and more of just something that is very attractive and pleasant to people. The performance is solid enough and the price is great. Curve is classic.

Noir Anthracite by Tom Ford

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I haven’t posted anything on the site for over a week now,as I took a trip to Las Vegas and then got stuck there for a number of days more due to all of the weather-related travel cancellations. I did however, get a chance to sample some new fragrances, during my time there to write up some one-time wear reviews.

One of these scents is the new tom Ford launch, Noir Anthracite, which is a flanker fragrance to the original Tom Ford Noir. So, I’m going to delve into my initial impressions after wearing a few sprays around for the day.

I would’ve liked to spend some more time with it, to truly get a full picture of this scent, but this will have to suffice. Note: I have updated the post, after more testing.

What Does Noir Anthracite Smell Like?

Notes include: Sichuan pepper, bergamot, tuberose, ginger, cedarwood, santal, and galbanum

Click here to try: TOM FORD NOIR ANTHRACITE EAU DE PARFUM 3.4 OZ/100 ML SEALED (3.4)

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Noir Anthracite starts out with a bang. It’s spicy, intense, and the bergamot was most prevalent to my nose at this point in time.

Some of it seemed vaguely familiar, which now that I’m home, I realize it’s the Sichuan pepper note that is also found in my sample sprayer of Amouage Journey.

There is a definite overlap between these two scents, though Journey Man is smokier in my opinion. However, Noir Anthracite does kind of seem like it could have been an Amouage release, as it fits right in with that line.

I cannot think of the other cologne that Noir Anthracite sets off memories of but it does feel like deja vu.

The cedarwood and santal gives Anthractie its woodsy/smoky aroma which complements the spiciness provided by the Sichuan pepper and ginger notes. It’s actually quite a masculine scent but doesn’t overdo it in my opinion.

What’s interesting about this cologne is that it doesn’t take the route of so many others and use its spiciness to create an enveloping cloud of warmth around the wearer…maybe it’s supposed to be ‘warm’ but it never seemed like it.

Perhaps, it was due to wearing it in a desert climate. It’s a pretty strong scent but it doesn’t feel all that heavy to me, more like a dark, rich, and deep aroma.

Noir Anthracite also eschews sweetness of any kind, which is a nice change of pace versus other popular scents of this era. Yes, there is a bergamot note, but it was mostly confined to the very start of the scent’s life cycle.

After that, it’s spicy/woodsy with a smokiness that is fairly mesquite. When you get right down to it, this cologne isn’t all that complicated and stays along the same line, for the rest of the wear.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection on Noir Anthracite is pretty darn good. It’s strong, but not overly powerful, to the point of annoyance. The sillage also sustains itself fairly well, over the life of the wear. It doesn’t just quit a few hours after spraying.

The longevity during my wear was around 7 hours. I also spent some time outside in the heat, so that probably effected it somewhat. I’d say this is best for fall/winter and I’d need another few rounds with it to properly gauge its longevity.

Update: Yeah, it’s about 7-8 hours of wear, in the colder weather too. It’s nicer when the air is crisp, but still didn’t wow me.

It strikes me as a versatile scent, that could be worn in a business or business casual situation but also work well for nightlife at a restaurant or lounge-type of atmosphere.

It is a mature masculine kind of cologne, so I’d say skip it, if you’re still in school…at least while in the classroom.

I know a lot of Tom Ford scents are pretty unisex but this is one that leans heavily toward the more traditional masculine kind of cologne.

Again, fall/winter seems like the perfect time to wear and I’d lean more towards saving it for the nighttime. It’s not really a sexy fragrance and I don’t know how most women would react to it.

Noir Anthracite seems to be stuck somewhere between niche fragrance and mass appeal. Dark, spicy, woody, and warmth has its appeal…just not one everybody would go crazy for.

Overall Impressions of Noir Anthracite

Overall, would I rate Noir Anthracite a buy? I sort of like it, but I’m not crazy about it. It doesn’t quite fit my personal style or tastes but I know a lot of men would really enjoy it. If you’re into spicy woods fragrances, you should check this one out.

If you like sweetness or aquatic types, then, this one probably isn’t for you. There is a lot that this scent does well and I honestly can’t say anything about it is ‘bad’, it all comes down to whether or not the composition fits your lifestyle.

Ultimately, there’s a lot of peppery spice, wood, and some smoky aromas. For most people, I don’t think that it’ll blow them away, and some might hate it entirely. There’s a whole lot of Tom Ford scents, that I’d rather wear, but this one is decent.