Fragrances

Sauvage Elixir by Dior

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I didn’t know that Dior was coming out with another Sauvage flanker here in 2021, but I naturally bought samples of the fragrance immediately upon learning of it.

I was looking forward to trying it out to see what this concentrated version of the popular men’s fragrance would be like.

So, here are my thoughts after testing. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it really worth a try?

What does Sauvage Elixir Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, wood, lavender, nutmeg, cardamom, cinnamon, patchouli, vetiver

Click here to try: Sauvage Elixir at Macy’s

My Full Review

Before I get into my review of Elixir, let’s see how Dior describes it:  The quintessence of Sauvage. An extraordinarily concentrated fragrance, like a fine liqueur made of exceptional ingredients. The emblematic freshness of Sauvage with an intoxicating heart of spices and a lavender essence tailor-made for Dior. A blend of rich woods forms the signature of its powerful, lavish, and captivating trail.

Right off the bat, Sauvage Elixir is a different animal from the rest of the series. The overlap of actual notes is the ubiquitous lavender note, patchouli and vetiver from EDT, and the nutmeg from Sauvage EDP.

Outside of that, the structure is going to be the same, just with different notes. So, grapefruit for the citrus. A blend of other spices and wood.

What Elixir actually reminded me of, is a much better version of Alien Man by Mugler. The spices, lavender, and fresh woods is pretty similar at times. Alien Man just had that weird opening act with a dill note and never got close to being as good as this.

However, the two are in the same vein, in terms of style.

Elixir opens up with it’s spice blend shining, grapefruit, and the ever present lavender. The grapefruit is pretty light on my skin. Mostly, I pick up cinnamon and nutmeg, with just a bit of cardamom to round it out.

It is a bold and intense mix of spices. I’m so glad they dumped that Sichuan pepper note from the original and gave us this instead. The spices are so much better in Elixir. 

After the wave of spices calm down somewhat, you get into the middle act. This is where the lavender takes over. You also get a licorice note that adds some sweetness, amber, and more of an indication of the woods.

The nutmeg and cinnamon are still very present for the duration of the wear. They play off of the lavender and amber beautifully and really helped to sell this one for me.

Finally, the dry down is lavender, with some sweetness, and fresh woods. The spices are lingering, but no longer packing that same punch. Elixir at this stage, is much softer and aromatic. 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Elixir is a powerhouse. Seriously, it’s up there with some of the strongest fragrances that I’ve come across, at its peak. Not the absolute biggest beast, just very close to it. Even a few sprays, really filled up the surrounding area from my skin.

Elixir does back off somewhat, but remains very strong for much of the wear. I absolutely adore how this one projects and hangs around throughout the day.

Add to that, spraying it on a t-shirt, I could detect it from like 10 feet away, while I wasn’t wearing any cologne. Dior wasn’t lying when they said that this one was super concentrated.

 

The longevity is perfection. Sauvage Elixir just keeps going. I’m not sure what the final tally ends up being but it’s easily above 12 hours, at a still very solid strength. Yes, this one is expensive in comparison to the other Sauvage offerings, but you get the performance to back it up.

Update: Testing it out a few more times, Elixir seems to hit the 13-15 hour range for me, at its max. Really depends on what I’m doing, while wearing it. 

Seasonally, I’d like this best in the autumn. Winter and spring will also work, just avoid the summertime heat. Which, yeah, I had to test this during the summer months. Indoors, it’s just great. Outdoors, that humidity kind of wrecks its charm.

I do think that Elixir has a more mature profile than the other Sauvage’s, especially the original EDT. That worked well for guys in their teens and twenties, but Elixir might not be for those in the high school age range.

Sure, for some it will be an option, but this one might not have the same appeal for those in that demographic.

Elixir isn’t completely a formal fragrance. It doesn’t feel out of place, wearing it while dressed up though. It may be too bold for certain functions, but it has plenty of versatility.

This Sauvage can be worn in the nightlife or while out on a date. It does have a sexiness and enough of a mass appeal to get complements from those around you.

Overall Impressions of Sauvage Elixir

Overall, do I like Sauvage Elixir? Yes, I do. Actually, as of now it is my favorite from the series. I give it a slight edge over the EDP, though, that may change as I spend more time with it.

Elixir brings some familiarity, while going in a different direction. The freshness and the spice blend are great here. It doesn’t have a sharp citrus and Sichuan pepper blend up top. The cinnamon and nutmeg are brilliant as replacements.

Lavender is allowed to shine and honestly comes across much better here than in the others. Just a touch of sweetness from licorice, really helps to round out Elixir. I was worried going in, as a too heavy licorice note gives me headaches, but it’s not an issue.

If you liked the Sauvage releases up to this point, you’ll want to give this a try at least. It’s definitely different, though, in an awesome way.

If you didn’t like the other Sauvage fragrances, this one could change your mind. I’m not much of a fan of the EDT original, but really enjoyed the others. This one gets rid of the weakest parts and comes up with something new.

The price may be a deciding factor. It’s currently $155 for a 2 ounce bottle. That is steep for a lot of folks. As such, it may not be one to blind buy.

Mr. Burberry Indigo by Burberry

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The Mr. Burberry line has been one that I’ve been much of a fan of. The aromas themselves have been pretty good, but the performances were definitely lacking. As such, when I got a sample of Mr. Burberry Indigo, I wasn’t too excited about this 2018 release. Did this change after testing? How does Indigo perform? Please continue below for my full review.

What does Mr. Burberry Indigo Smell Like?

Notes include: blackcurrant, violet leaf, spearmint, lemon, sage, rosemary, white musk, oak moss, amber, driftwood

Click here to try: Mr. Burberry Indigo at Burberry

My Full Review

Let’s see how Burberry describes this scent: Introducing Mr. Burberry Indigo. A man of contrasts, he is refreshed and invigorated by an impromptu escape from the city.

Indigo opens up with a fresh mint and rosemary blend, with the lemon and blackcurrant notes coming through. It also feels a bit aquatic, with the driftwood and violet leaf notes.

It’s quite reminiscent of the Acqua di Gio series, with the overlapping notes and how it’s structured. Though, it lacks the floral heart and the aquatic element is just a touch versus a pretty major component.

Actually, Burberry Indigo has more of a greenish profile than being a ‘blue’ sort of fragrance. Herbal and outdoorsy with an ever-present freshness from the spearmint to the rosemary to the oak moss notes. The spearmint, is going to be the strongest and most persistent of the bunch.

Each of the herbal notes, seems to get a go at a time to shine. However, it will ultimately be about the spearmint note, blended with amber, driftwood, and a general green aromatic aroma. Burberry Indigo isn’t a super complicated fragrance, but does have an appealing composition.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this is a lighter moderate fragrance. I will say, that it has a much better ability to project itself on my skin versus the other Mr. Burberry colognes that I have reviewed. This EDT will stick 3-5 feet from the skin, at it’s max, but doesn’t hit skin scent territory until later in the wear.

The longevity is also improved when compared to the others. It’s still not great at 6-7 hours of wear, but it’s serviceable and not completely weak. I do wish it had a bit more punch and ability to hang around, not completely terrible, however.

Seasonally, it will be best in moderate to warmer temperatures of spring. But, it could work for most of the year. In the winter, the aromatic freshness, might be a bit much in the cold air. So, that’s probably it’s greatest limitation.

Indigo is also very versatile otherwise. It isn’t an offensive fragrance and not one to shine in the nightlife. However, it can be worn casually, to work, and to many other places. It has no trouble fitting in and can be safely worn by younger or even older guys.

Overall Impressions of Mr. Burberry Indigo

Overall, do I like Mr. Burberry Indigo? As of now, it’s my favorite from the Mr. Burberry series. That’s not saying too much, since I’m not generally a fan of it. That being said, I do enjoy this one. Like a more herbal green take, on an Acqua di Gio style of scent.

This does have a very minty profile, so, if that’s not your thing…skip it. The herbal woodiness and overall clean outdoorsy feeling is pleasant and attractive. I don’t think that Indigo does anything too groundbreaking, but I don’t have too many complaints from wearing it.

The aroma itself is nice, not incredible. The performance is decent enough. To me, it’s an above average cologne that could find a spot in your rotation, for the right price. I’d wear it more as a change of pace from the rest of what I have.

Is it a must buy? No, but it also isn’t one that I would ever regret having. Indigo EDT is worth a try, to see if you want to make a full commitment. I like it.

Gucci Guilty vs Guilty Intense

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In this edition, of the head to head men’s cologne comparisons, we have to entries from the Gucci line: Guilty vs. Guilty Intense. Which of these fragrances smells the best? The original or it’s flanker descendant? Which has the better performance? Out of the two, which is the better buy? Please continue below for my full break down, as well as, the original reviews of both scents.

Guilty vs Intense: Tale of the Tape

Gucci Guilty

Notes include: lemon, orange blossom, lavender, patchouli, cedar, pink pepper, neroli

Click here to try: Guilty By Gucci EDT spray for Men, 3 Ounce

Read my original review: Gucci Guilty

Gucci Guilty Intense

Notes include: lemon, lavender, coriander, amber, orange blossom, neroli, cedar, patchouli

Click here to try: Gucci Guilty Intense Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3 Ounce

Read my original review: Guilty Intense

Opening

Gucci Guilty opens up with a blend of lemon, pink pepper, and lavender. It’s a light, warm, and calming fragrance with added base notes of cedar and patchouli. While it feels simple, it’s actually fairly unique in how it comes across when compared to other scents.

Guilty Intense obviously has a lot of similarities to its predecessor, however, it goes lighter on the lemon. Also, the lavender and amber notes are heavier, with addition spice from coriander and patchouli.

Which do I enjoy more? While I think the original is nice with the citrus note, I think that the use of the amber and lavender in Intense is just a better mix. Also, the extra bit of spice really adds more substance to the fragrance.

I really like the amber quality of Intense, coriander is a spice that I usually enjoy, and it plays well off of the calming lavender. Guilty’s lemon and pink pepper is good, but not great, in comparison.

Edge: Intense

Projection

Obviously, in this category, Intense should have the upper hand. It does. However, neither cologne is particularly powerful. The original is pretty moderate for a few hours and then light and airy.

Intense, is stronger and more persistent, probably on the upper edge of moderate. I guess it is, technically more intense than the original, but is by no means a huge fragrance.

To get a massive version of the Guilty name, you have to go with some of the flankers, that don’t really compare to the original release in how it’s structured.

Overall, the strength of Guilty Intense is good, just don’t expect a crazy sillage from it. Nonetheless, it is the clear winner in this category.

Edge: Intense

Longevity

Gucci Guilty lasts 5-6 hours on my skin. Meanwhile, I get 7-8 from Guilty Intense.

I like the original Guilty, but performance has never been all that good, especially at this price point. Guilty Intense will stick around for more situations, one will find themselves in. Pretty much a standard work day and can make it through a night out, just fine.

None of the fragrances from this Gucci lineup seem to have insane longevity (Absolute does, though, it’s an entirely different type of scent), but the winner is certain, in this battle.

Edge: Intense

Versatility

Both of these scents have great versatility and are basically identical, in that regard. Seasonally, they can be worn year round pretty much. Are fine for casual wear, work, and smell good enough for dates. Also, both seem best for guys in their 20s-30s to wear.

I think that I enjoy wearing either of them in the warmer weather. The extreme cold and extreme heat, probably aren’t the ideal scenarios to wear these…but it’s not too much of an issue.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I like Gucci Guilty, but it never really impressed me. It is a simple and clean fragrance, that is a good go to for a wide variety of situations. The main attractions are the lemon, lavender, and pink pepper note.

It has a slight woody/earthiness to the aroma, but also some nice floral sweetness. Not a bad scent, just nothing spectacular.

Guilty Intense, is just a better cologne. The performance is better, but also, the composition is just much nicer. It’s probably my favorite from the Guilty line. It’s very warm with amber and floral notes led by the lavender.

I like the orange blossom in this one and how the light the lemon note is. I find it to be a very enjoyable fragrance to wear, even if it is pretty simple as well.

Winner: Gucci Guilty Intense

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.

Polo Cologne Intense by Ralph Lauren

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Polo Cologne Intense EDP is a 2021 release from Ralph Lauren that is a modern flanker to the classic original Polo, which dates back to the 1970s. It seems weird to finally put out a flanker, over 40 years after the fact, but whatever. I recently got ahold of a sample of this scent and have been testing it out. How does it smell? How long does it last? When should it be worn?

What does Polo Cologne Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, mint, basil, sage, patchouli, vetiver

My Full Review

Polo Cologne Intense opens up with a fresh blast of citrus and mint. The grapefruit is bright and cold, with additional mint, and the ever-growing presence of basil. On me, I get more mint at first, and then the basil becomes more prominent.

It’s got a very fresh, green/herbal sort of profile. The basil takes over and it simply has a minty edge from there on, until you get to the dry down.

The next phase has sage and violet leaf, joining the basil which gives Cologne Intense even more of that herbal greenish profile. The basil doesn’t stick out as much to me and the entire thing seems more blended together and it’s harder to distinguish between the individual notes.

The final dry down is actually pretty earthy and dry. The green fresh spice is still there somewhat, but I mostly get the remnants of the violet leaf, patchouli, and vetiver. This is where it feels most like the original to me, but it’s still a fractional overlapping. You get some of Polo, just perhaps not as much as some might like.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one will project 4-7 feet from the skin. It’s not a complete bomb, pretty moderate, but I found it to be consistent and didn’t just quickly turn into a skin scent. I really don’t have any complaints, as I wouldn’t want this one to be a total monster.

The longevity was about 7-8 hours, on my skin. Again, it’s solid, just not going to be shockingly good at sticking around. For most purposes, Polo Cologne Intense will get the job done.

Seasonally, Polo Cologne Intense is actually very versatile. It might be a bit too fresh for the coldest days of the year, but it can work any other time. This is probably it’s greatest strength. Very close to an all-around cologne.

The original Polo in the green bottle, can seem too old school for many guys who grew up in a later time period. This one does have a more youthful feel to it, but not something that would be exclusive to younger guys either. It would work for early 20s and up without issue.

It is safe for work, a night out, or semi-formal occasions. Not really a sexy scent or a club beast, but it can be an easy reach for a lot of situations.

Overall Impressions of Polo Cologne Intense

Overall, do I like Polo Cologne Intense? It’s pretty good. I like the opening phase of this fragrance, but after that it becomes pretty much just an average green/outdoorsy scent with touches of the original Polo cologne.

That mint, basil, and grapefruit is a nice combination. Very fresh and bright. But, is that worth the price of a full bottle? Probably not. Maybe once this starts to hit the discounters, it might be worthwhile for some guys to pick up a bottle.

The performance here is good enough. Sillage isn’t completely weak, it is consistent, and will last close to a full work day.

If you liked the original, this is a more modern take. Don’t expect it to be an exact clone, with more power. This isn’t nearly as woody but does give you a herbal freshness, more of the basil that is found in the original.

Polo Cologne Intense is an okay effort from Ralph Lauren, not amazing, but definitely not terrible.