Fragrances

Mr. Burberry EDT by Burberry

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Mr. Burberry EDT isn’t a cologne that I had tried out yet, so when I got a sample of it, I was hoping that it would be among the brand’s best efforts. This scent was released in 2014, which makes it one of the newer colognes from this line. It is a woodsy based fragrance with a citrus note provided by grapefruit.

In this post, I want to give my impressions of Mr. Burberry eau de toilette after wearing, describe how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if it’s worth a purchase or not.

What does Mr. Burberry EDT Smell Like?

Notes include: tarragon, cedar, birch leaf, grapefruit, cardamom, sandalwood, vetiver

Click here to try: BURBERRY Mr Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce

My Full Review

The opening of Mr. Burberry is a smooth blend of the grapefruit note along with some of the woods, notably the sandalwood and cedar. I can’t say that I’m blown away by the opening but I do find it pleasant and subtle on my skin. There’s just so many pairings of grapefruit and wood out there, it feels redundant.

There is a dash of mint in there, from the start, which lends a nice bit of coolness to the composition. It has a slightly herbal tone to it that underlies the citrus and woodsy notes but again, Mr. Burberry never comes across as anything special, in my opinion.

That isn’t to say that this cologne smells bad, it definitely doesn’t. Mr. Burberry is very clean and crisp and feels like a more dressed up type of fragrance, that can also be worn casually. The mint, cardamom and tarragon, is what really drives the best aspects of this cologne.

There is a hint of spice there, that is pretty much the only thing I find interesting about it. That’s the cardamom note coming through, to my nose, it is the highlight of Mr. Burberry. It plays wonderfully off of the mint, and then later, the woodsy base notes.

Nutmeg? I suppose, but it is none too strong. It just seems really generic and uneventful otherwise, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, depending on your own personal style.

As it dries down, I think this fragrance gets somewhat better than how it started. It’s got plenty of woody goodness in there and is quite fresh. Vetiver and birch, are the main notes I pick up from that aspect, along with the ubiquitous sandalwood.

The grapefruit is still around, not as sharp as it once was, but it does provide the main thrust of this cologne. The finish of Mr. Burberry is dry, woodsy, with the herbal/spice notes still floating around.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection is decent. You can get away with spraying a lot more of this stuff than some other entries. It’s stronger than a skin scent, but the sillage doesn’t carve out a path in a room. Mr. Burberry does everything smoothly.

The longevity is also pretty good, this isn’t an all day and all night affair, but it’ll probably get through most of a work day. During testing, I got in the 5-7 hour range, and that’s what it seems about capable of.

Having now used up the sample sprayer that I had, I’d say that’s the range I get each time. Mostly, closer to the five hour mark, rather than the latter.

Mr. Burberry is an elegant type of scent so it will do well in those dressier situations as well as at work or school. It really isn’t offensive and is simply something that smells good/fresh. It does enjoy some versatility too, as it seems like it could work in almost any season.

It’s not a night club beast, has a definite appeal, but not really a sexy quality. Women will enjoy it, but it’s isn’t something that truly captures attention, in my experience.

As much as it doesn’t really cultivate much excitement from me, I can honestly say that it’s versatility is perhaps its strongest point. It’s pleasant, low key, and has the ability to simply work in so many different scenarios.

Overall Impressions of Mr. Burberry

Overall, is Mr. Burberry a buy? For me, no. I actually like the way it smells and it is far better than Burberry Weekend, for example. There are just other Burberry colognes that I would rather wear.

Plus, since the performance isn’t outstanding, it loses more of my potential interest.

This cologne seems to get a lot of undue hate from a lot of folks, but it really isn’t a ‘bad’ fragrance, just not something I absolutely must have. If I could snag a really cheap bottle of this stuff, I probably would wear it on some occasions, and enjoy doing so.

It doesn’t stand out from the pack and that could be good or bad depending on your own tastes.

I do wish it was a bit more interesting and had some greater longevity. Even just the performance, could’ve made Mr. Burberry EDT worthwhile at the right price.

Hamptons by Bond No. 9

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In today’s review, we have another entry from Bond No. 9. It is a unisex fragrance called Hamptons. I’ve been wearing this around for the past few days, out of the sample vial that I received. In this post, I’m going to cover what’s in it, what it smells like, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a buy.

What does Hampton by Bond No. 9 Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, lime blossom, jasmine, rose, sandalwood, magnolia, musk, sage, and cedar

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 Hamptons by Bond No. 9 For Men And Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3-Ounces

My Full Review

The opening citrus notes of Hamptons are quite sharp. I think it’s the fact that it is blending with the floral notes, which gives it this kind of odd feeling versus the usual citrus fare.

For me, 10-15 minutes into wear, I start to get whiffs of the jasmine and sage notes, that reminds me of walking through a green garden during springtime.

The jasmine remains the strongest floral note for me, throughout the wear. Not much rose or magnolia, at all. Very light and they sit underneath the main accord.

Hamptons is a hyper clean smelling scent, due to the power of the lime/lemon aroma that it generates that sits on top of what could be considered soapy/body wash ingredients including jasmine and sandalwood.

The slight herbal tinge provided by the sage, is one of the reasons that I think this gets compared with Creed’s Silver Mountain Water. I totally get the comparison but I feel that the Creed is the better fragrance, even if neither of these are really my style. As I recall, the Creed has a metallic quality that this one lacks.

It only becomes more green, fresh, and woody as it dries down. The sharp citrus opening fades at about 30 minutes for me and the scent feels much more well blended. Hamptons is so light and clean, in a very fresh out of the shower, kind of way.

The trail end is a woody mix of sage and floral notes. It’s a really nice mix, and develops into something quite a bit different from the opening act of the perfume.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts out on the strong end but then morphs into a much more moderate fragrance. The sillage doesn’t require that much, in terms of sprays, because it can

The longevity is absolutely great. We’re talking double digit hours of wear with only two sprays, which should be how all fragrances at this price point perform.

For seasonality, I’d say spring, as a definite. Also, would work in the summertime. It wouldn’t perform badly in the cold, but I’d much rather wear something else that is more suited to the colder months of the year.

Hamptons is a casual scent. It’s pleasant but not really sexy. It is kind of ambiguous, as it is in reality a unisex scent. It would absolutely work on male or female.

Overall Impressions of Hamptons

Overall, would I recommend Hamptons? I like it. It just isn’t my own personal style. If you’re looking for a really clean citrus/floral, that is low key and gives good performance, it’s a solid buy.

Just understand what you’re getting with this one and don’t expect some super sexy ‘club’ cologne. For what it does, Hamptons does it well.

Again, it’s similar to Silver Mountain Water by Creed, but not exactly. I wouldn’t try to substitute one for the other. Hamptons isn’t one of my favorite Bond scents, but it can definitely be worthwhile for the right person.

Beyond by David Beckham

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I have already reviewed multiple David Beckham fragrances for men on this site. For a line that hasn’t been in existence very long, it has already released quite a number of scents. Beckham colognes sell at a very attractive and inexpensive price point, which allows a greater number of people to try them out and not have to invest so much money to smell good.

Today, I wanted to review one of the newer offerings from this line, called Beyond. In this post, I want to explore a bit on how it smells, how it performs, and whether or not it is worth consideration for purchase.

What does Beyond by David Beckham Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, cardamom, leather, mojito, vanilla, black pepper

Click here to try: David Beckham Beyond Men’s Eau de Toilette Spray, 3 Ounce

My Review

One of the main draws of Beyond is its mojito note. Now, this excited me, as one of my favorite colognes to wear is Guerlain Homme which features a mojito accord as its main notes as well. If Beckham Beyond could act as a cheaper substitute for Guerlain, I would be quite pleased.

Unfortunately, the mojito feel in Beyond is completely subdued and not even close to being as good as Guerlain. You do get a sense of the mint but none of the rum or sugar. The opening is a woodsy blend with mint/leather/grapefruit providing a smooth and slightly spicy aroma.

During the drydown period, the cardamom/vanilla/black pepper becomes more noticeable and the mint become less prominent. Beyond does smell quite nice, however, it never really blows me away as a scent. It feels completely generic and uninteresting.

It’s an enjoyable cologne but don’t expect anything unique or special.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Beyond, is light to moderate. It isn’t a heavy hitter at all and feels like it’d be an everyday wear for casual situations. I’ve now tried this out a few times and it never has great sillage on my skin. For the first little bit, it is noticeable but not heavy

Longevity isn’t great either. I got 1.5-2 hours of solid performance before it became strictly a skin scent. This was just further disappointment, as it really failed to live up to my hopes of a cheap Guerlain alternative. and it offers nothing much that makes it stand out on its own.

Again, it’s pretty consistent in that range. During one test, it lasted a little more than three hours, in an air conditioned environment.

When should this be worn? Assuming it lasts on your skin, I’d say anytime except in the extreme heat or humidity. That seems to really mess with the staying power of Beyond. It’d be at its peak, on a brisk day.

It smells attractive enough, for a date or and evening out. Meanwhile, it can also totally be used for a daily wear. Again, it’s really up to what kind of performance you get from Beyond.

Overall Impression of David Beckham Beyond

Overall, can I rate Beyond a buy? Not really. I just don’t see the point of owning this Beckham cologne. It is pretty generic, though, it smells nice. It doesn’t even last long, so it doesn’t make up for its completely average scent.

It is inexpensive but there are better Beckham options available and choices from other brands.

Beyond is just a wasted effort in my opinion, if it had a little bit more intensity, it could be a serviceable cologne to wear at school or work…but it failed to even accomplish that. Upon trying it a few more times, I do appreciate aspects of the scent itself.

I like the leather and mint, but I want a stronger impact from that mojito accord. Really not a ‘bad’ smell, just held back by mediocre performance.

Versace Eros vs Polo Red Cologne Comparison

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It’s been a little while since I have done a cologne comparison and so I thought that I’d present a head to head match up between a Versace and a Polo scent. Eros vs. Polo Red. Both of these colognes are highly popular fragrances that have been released in the past 3-4 years and usually occupy a similar pricing point. I like both and have owned (own) both of them before. Which one is better? Which is the better performer? Is one worth a purchase?

Tale of the Tape: Eros vs Polo Red

Versace Eros 

Notes of Eros: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver

versace eros

Read my Eros review

Shop Amazon for: Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

Polo Red Tale of the Tape

rp_polo-red-300x259.jpg

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

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

Opening

The opening of Eros is like a heavy, cool, and gourmand blast that then begins to warm up rather quickly. Polo Red is sweet and warm with a candy-like lemon and cranberry combo. I really like Polo Red in the opening but I feel that Eros is just more interesting, even if it can be overpowering.

Update: Eros now seems to have more of the lemon up top than previously, at least to my nose. It’s more of a citrus mint up top, whereas the was more balance and a creamier tonka/vanilla aroma, in the very early stages.

Polo Red starts with that citrus and cranberry sweet/sharp blend. It’s bright and sits on top of plenty of amber.

Which one is better? I’d probably still go with Eros, but it’s less clear cut than it had been previously.

Edge: Eros

Projection

Versace Eros is an absolute monster in this regard. Polo Red is on the lower end of moderate with how it projects. I often have to double up on the application of Red, just to make it stand out. Eros never has that problem.

Update: Eros is still better with the sillage than Polo Red, but it isn’t as strong as it was in the initial bottles.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

My biggest gripe with Polo Red has always been the longevity issues. It works rather well when I double up but can have the tendency to just give out sometimes.

Eros is not only loud and bold, it also has always gotten very great wear anytime I’ve put it on. Even if you don’t like Eros, it simply performs.

Update: Eros has also lost some of its longevity, but again, still better than Red.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

Polo Red is good in the spring and summertime. I think it works decent enough in the colder months also. Red is a nice casual wear that is safe for the office but can be worn on dates without problem.

Eros…I can’t call it an office scent (it could be done, technically), but it is an in your face type of fragrance. Eros is also a cold weather scent, it can get somewhat ugly in the heat. Gotta give the nod to Polo.

Edge: Polo Red

Overall Scent

I’m going to go with Eros. However, I really do like wearing Polo Red…it’s just got some performance issues. Eros isn’t really a cologne for everyone nor is it for ever situation but there are plenty of guys who will appreciate it.

It is a rich, bold, and very nice gourmand that is built for romantic wear. It’s the better of the two. However, nowadays I might go with Polo Red Extreme as my first choice from these line of scent. I’m still fairly high on Versace Eros, just not to the same extent.

Winner: Eros

Polo Red Intense vs. Extreme Cologne Comparison

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Today, I am going to be doing a head to head comparison between two Ralph Lauren fragrances. These two entries are from the Polo Red lineup and are flankers to the original cologne: Polo Red Extreme vs. Intense. I have worn and review each already, but which one is the better buy? Which lasts longer? Smells the best? I will break down each by category, before declaring an ultimate winner.

Tale of the Tape: Red Intense vs Extreme

Polo Red Extreme

Notes include: blood orange, coffee, ebony wood

Click here to try: Polo Red Extreme Eau de Parfum Spray 4.2 Ounce, Ralph Lauren Men

Read my review: Polo Red Extreme

Polo Red Intense

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

Click here to try: 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

Polo Red Extreme opens up with coffee and blood orange, I also get a bit of that tart cranberry note, which is in all Polo Red fragrances.

Intense opens with a similar profile to the original Polo Red, using cranberry and lemon, for a bright fruity start. However, it is also joined by spicy notes such as ginger, sage, saffron, and that warm coffee.

Which is better? I think that Intense is quite an improvement over the original and I like it a whole lot. However, I like the mature simplicity of Extreme, even more.

The blood orange note is great, very juicy, and the coffee is even stronger than the rest of the lineup. Not way better, but I like it a tad more.

Edge: Extreme

Projection

To me, the first few hours of wear, for both Intense and Extreme are about the same. The sillage for each is quite strong and will definitely project itself plenty away from the wearer. After a few hours, Intense becomes more moderate, while Extreme remains close to how it opened.

Edge: Extreme

Longevity

Again, in terms of performance, they are quite similar but Extreme has the ability to go longer. Extreme lasts 8-10 hours, on my skin, depending on the day. Meanwhile, Intense lasts 7-9 hours. Obviously, some overlap here, but Extreme reaches a greater height.

Edge: Extreme

Versatility

These scents are pretty equal, in when they can be worn. Both are best for cooler temperatures and don’t do great in the heat. Casual and nightlife fragrances mainly, but you can wear to the office, if you go light with the spray. No real distinction.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Polo Red Intense is a really great fragrance. I liked the original Polo Red and then this came along, and improved upon every aspect of it. It has a lot of personality and great complexity.

The dry down period features sweet fruit, smooth leather/coffee, warm amber, and lavender. It’s got very good performance and is a solid scent overall. I recommend it, completely.

Update: I’m not into Red Intense as much now, then when it first came out. I would definitely go with Extreme over it now.

However, I think Polo Red Extreme, is a little better. It’s really simplistic with that blood orange/cranberry opening, coffee, and ebony wood in the dry down.

Yes, you will have to love the blood orange and coffee mix to like this one, but it is damn good. The performance is really great and it’s smooth and warm profile is a joy to wear.

Extreme wins this round, not by a huge margin, but enough for the nod.

Winner: Extreme