Fragrances

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.

5 Best Alfred Dunhill Colognes for Men

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Alfred Dunhill is an English brand that has been around for more than a century. It has a long history in the fashion game and it has produced some quality fragrances for both men and women in that time span. For this list, I have selected what I feel to be the five best colognes for men by Alfred Dunhill.

 

What are the Best Smelling Dunhill Fragrances?

Most Popular Dunhill

Desire– A sweet and dynamic fragrance that is energetic and quite popular. It’s been on the market for over 20 years now and it still has a following of people who swear by it. I do like it, but it’s a bit too sweet and rosy for me to want to wear it often.

It opens up with its fruity notes in full effect. Apple and citrus (lemon and bergamot). The rose will come in, on top of a layer of fresh musk. 

The rose is joined by orange blossom, which will give way to the vanilla note, which takes away some of the sharpness from the fading citrus notes. 

Dunhill Desire is an inexpensive play from the early 2000s, still has nice performance, and is very unique versus the mainstream of what you’re going to get nowadays. Read my review here.

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Signature Sandalwood

Dunhill Signature Collection Indian Sandalwood Eau de Parfum for Men, 3.4 fl. oz– This is a nice option for sandalwood lovers. Maybe not as good as some of the niche plays on the market, but Indian Sandalwood is an enjoyable wear.

This Dunhill Signature option is a lighter and cleaner experience. The sandalwood is creamy with hints of fruit notes coming through, but mainly a powdery orris, that adds a coldness to the composition.

The base notes are dry and earthy with patchouli and synthetic moss giving Indian Sandalwood a greener finish. Performance is solid, even if the sillage isn’t too heavy. 

 

 

 

Summery Citrus

Dunhill Signature Collection Amalfi Citrus Eau de Parfum for Men, 3.4 fl. oz.– Another one from the Signature Collection and Amalfi Citrus is a dynamic and fresh option for the spring/summer months.

This does have a similar profile to the Tom Ford citrus/floral fragrances. However, this is much more weighted to the citrus notes, and has more of a masculine vibe overall. Lemon and mandarin, is mainly what I pick up from the citrus.

There is also a nice amount of cardamom spice/sweetness and some additional herbal spice, sitting on top of a light white floral blend. 

Top Dunhill Icon Scent

Dunhill Icon Racing Eau De Parfum, 1.7 Fl Oz– Icon Racing is a mix of sweet and fresh spice. It opens up with citrus and a prominent cardamom note, which adds spice and also a bit of a lemony aroma to the mix. 

That will quickly transition and the cardamom weakens in favor of the lavender and orange blossom notes. It feels like a sweet floral fragrance with a light powdery/musk aroma coming up from the base.

It’s aromatic and sweet with a nice aroma for the spring and summer months. Nothing too unique, does have somewhat of an Invictus-like quality, but doesn’t fully stray into that category to my nose.

 

 

 

80s Throwback

Edition– A men’s fragrance which dates back to the 1980s, Edition, is another woodsy based scent with underlying citrus notes of bergamot and lemon. Edition has an earthy/herbal feel to it to go along with a masculine spice. It is refined and mature.

The vetiver note here is very good with the citrus top notes and a bit of a smoky base. May have been reformulated, but I haven’t come across a new bottle in a long time, so I can’t say for sure.

edition

Le Fou 21 by Dolce & Gabbana

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Dolce & Gabbana is a great Italian design house, especially when it comes to fragrances for both men and women. I really enjoy The One by D&G, as it has an absolutely wonderful smell, even if it doesn’t last quite as long as one would hope.

As a part of the recent batch of sample size colognes I purchased from Fragrancenet.com, I picked up a D&G fragrance which I was not at all familiar with and so was excited to try out. It is called Le Fou 21 and was introduced by D&G in 2011.

What does 21 Le Fou by D&G Smell Like?

Notes: Bergamot, cognac, violet, coriander, and juniper

Click here to try: D & G 21 LE FOU by Dolce & Gabbana EDT SPRAY 3.4 OZ

My Full Review

Note: I am updating this page from 2014 to reflect the new format on the website. It’s been a long time, since I’ve smelled this cologne, so I’ll keep my more basic review from then. At least until I encounter Le Fou 21 again.

I had no expectations of Le Fou 21 before I got it and frankly only bought it on the strength of the Dolce & Gabbana name. I didn’t check the notes which made up this fragrance nor did I check to see what category of scent it could be placed under, so I was going into this sort of blind.

When I first sprayed Le Fou 21 from the tester, I immediately noticed its warmth and spice. It reminded me somewhat of YSL’s wonderful Opium for Men, in that respect, with its oriental spice and smooth aroma that is similar to a vanilla.

Le Fou, however, is a different fragrance from Opium, especially once it settles down. It is a really great blend of spice, florals, and greens. The cognac gives this fragrance its warmth and I think that it would work beautifully in late Autumn or Winter.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

I wore it to work yesterday, in order to see how it would perform over a long day. Le Fou 21 held up and didn’t fade noticeably at all during work hours.

This cologne isn’t heavy, rather, it is a light fragrance that seems to linger in the air but never overwhelms the senses. It’s there and it’s noticeable but it is as if it is simply ambient or a part of the fabric of daily life.

Overall Impressions of Le Fou 21

Out of the five new testers that I bought I would rank Le Fou 21 as my second favorite behind Gucci Guilty Black. However, they are both completely different fragrances, so having both in your rotation wouldn’t be repetitive.

Guilty Black is a bolder scent while Le Fou 21 is also sexy, just in its subtlety.

I think that 21 Le Fou is a great addition to D&G’s line of fragrances. It is classy, sophisticated, and sensual without being overbearing.

It is a fragrance that seems as though it could work very well in an array of different settings and for guys who want to be low key with their cologne choices.