Fragrances

Man Amber by Halston

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I’m winding down my reviews from the latest batch of fragrance samples I’ve received recently (although, I hope to buy some more scent to try out soon). One of the most interesting scents that I ordered seemed to be Man Amber by Halston.

I had no idea really what to expect from this cologne and reading the list of notes that were included grabbed my attention, since the looked different from many other scents. In this post, I want to give an overview on how it smells, performs, when it should be used, and if I think that Man Amber is worth a buy.

What does Halston Man Amber Smell Like?

halston man amber

Notes include: amber, geranium, bergamot, oud, musk, myrrh, oud, thyme

Click here to try: Halston Man Amber By Halston For Men Edt Spray 4.2 Oz & Eau De Toilette .25 Oz Mini

My Full Review

Update: I wrote this review many years ago and am updating it to fit the newer layout of the site. I’m pretty positive that this got discontinued a while ago.

Upon opening, it becomes very clear that Halston’s Man Amber is quite a unique scent. Just by taking a look at the notes, one can see that there is going to be something different about this cologne.

First, let me state that this fragrance has very limited use and isn’t going to appeal to everyone. The opening is a dry warmth with woody and smokey undertones. The myrrh note is quite distinct and prominent, even if it has ‘amber’ in its name.

I do enjoy scents that have amber as a note, so I was looking forward to seeing what this one was all about.

I’m not a big fan of oud scents. However, I think that it fits well in Man Amber and doesn’t distract me from the overall fragrance. To me, the wood notes give it a similar aroma to a cask, with the same smoke laden scent and added warmth and sweetness.

This is a fairly linear scent and most of what you get is myrrh, amber, and oud.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it does well, but Man Amber is on the softer side of colognes. So, a pretty moderate start, before it settles into something light.

It actually has good longevity and I got 6-8 hours out of it. That’s fairly good, but many of these types of fragrances will hit the 9+ hour range without question. This one is pretty moderate based on that metric.

To me, this is built for casual to semi formal wear in the winter. I wouldn’t wear it on a warm day and it doesn’t feel like much of a nightlife scent, in my opinion.

Overall Impressions of Man Amber

Is Halston’s Man Amber worth a buy? That depends. I think that it smells good, but it doesn’t totally fit my style or tastes. I can appreciate this fragrance for what it is, but it really doesn’t appeal to me.

However, I know that there are plenty of people who would probably love this cologne. If you’re a big fan of oud or amber, this might be a good bet for you to try out. Also, if you just want something outside the norm.

The myrrh is a wildcard, as to whether or not someone will enjoy this scent, as it is the main attraction here. Overall, it is a good performer at a really affordable price point.

Nautica Voyage vs Perry Ellis 360 Red Comparison

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In today’s cologne comparison, I want to do a head to head match up between two of the most popular inexpensive fragrance options for men, Nautica Voyage and Perry Ellis 360 Red. As usual, I want to cover how each one smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and declare a winner that will suit most guy’s in the market for one of these colognes. Please continue below to see how each of these scents stacks up.

Tale of the Tape 360 Red vs. Voyage

Nautica Voyage 

Notes include: apple, musk, cedar, green leaf, amber, mimosa

NAUTICA-VOYAGE

Read my original review here

Try Nautica Voyage: Nautica Voyage By Nautica For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 oz

Perry Ellis 360 Red 

Notes include: bergamot, cinnamon, lime, orange, lavender, spices

360

My Perry Ellis 360 Red Review

Click here to try: 360 Red by Perry Ellis for Men – 3.4 Ounce EDT Spray

Opening

Nautica Voyage opens with it’s fruity/citrus and aquatic blend of notes. It’s completely summertime in a bottle. The apple note is quite prevalent and it actually takes on an orange-like aroma. With that there is the unique mimosa note and a good amount of musk.

Nautica really went with something different from the usual cheapie fare, when they released Voyage.

360 Red also brings the citrus but it is more defined with bergamot, lemon, and actual orange ingredients. 360 Red is a lot more in your face from the start and can come off kind of intense or harsh, even.

It does have a freshness about it but it is spicier and less smooth than Voyage. 360 Red is often compared to Acqua di Gio and it is a close comp. The citrus start is strong and the cinnamon spice also bubbles up.

Which is better? I prefer the unique aroma of Voyage’s start versus 360.

Edge: Voyage

Projection

Voyage is a moderate fragrance and is towards the lighter side of things. 360 Red settles down from its opening into something that is much more moderate. However, it is on the stronger side of moderate and projects better than Voyage.

Edge: 360 Red

Longevity

Voyage is no slouch in this department but it isn’t a beast either. I usually get around 7 hours of wear…not bad. 360 Red is a longevity beast, though.

It is the type of fragrance that gives all day performance, which is one of the reasons it’s such a bargain at the price. Meaning, all work day. With the last batch of this that I tried it would go anywhere from 6-9 hours.

The range is greater than Voyage, but it’ll hit a higher peak.

Edge: 360 Red

Versatility

Both of these are casual colognes that are great for office wear, school, or other places. Neither are really all that ‘sexy’ or club/date night type of scents. Seasonally, both are best worn in the warmer months and neither of them are fall/winter colognes.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Both of these fragrances are great bargain buys. 360 Red gets a lot of respect for being so similar to Acqua di Gio but with more of a spice to it. It is also a better performer than Nautica Voyage, which is why it’ll get the edge here.

Personally, if I want to wear something that smells like ADG, I’ll buy Acqua di Gio Profumo as I think that it smells the best out of all the options. There are lots of colognes that smell similar to ADG including 360 Red and Just Me by Paris Hilton .

Nautica Voyage is a very nice and linear semi aquatic fragrance for guys who want something inexpensive to wear. It is a perfectly valid option if you want to grab a bottle of that, if you don’t like the spiciness offered by 360 Red.

Again, both are cheap, so it really won’t set you back if you want to purchase both. Voyage is under $20 for a large bottle, so if cost is the only factor…go with that.

I only have a bottle of Voyage, at the moment, and won’t be buying another 360 Red because I frankly don’t need it when ADG Profumo is a better option in that category.

Winner: 360 Red

Burberry Brit vs Burberry for Men Cologne Comparison

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I really do enjoy Burberry’s lineup of men’s fragrances for casual wear (not Weekend, though). I’ve owned bottles of both Brit and Burberry for Men throughout the years and I always find myself going back and forth between them and Burberry London on autumn and winter days. So, in today’s cologne comparison I thought that I’d put two of these scents head to head and give my take on which one is the better buy. Which one lasts longer? Which one projects better? Which one is better smelling?

Burberry for Men vs. Brit

Brit Tale of the Tape

Notes include: wild roses, tonka bean, green mandarin, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, cedar

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Read my original review

Click here to try: BURBERRY Brit for Men Eau de Toilette, 1.0 fl. oz

Burberry for Men Tale of the Tape

Notes include: mint, lavender, sandalwood, cedar, and  amber.

FullSizeRender (49)

Read my Burberry Review

Click here to try: BURBERRY for Men Eau de Toilette, 1.0 fl. oz

Opening

The opening of Burberry for Men is a smooth blast of cool mint blended with warm amber and a prominent cedar note. Meanwhile, Brit provides a slightly spicy ginger not combined with rose and tonka bean.

Brit is fresh and already begins to develop its powdery air. To me, there really isn’t any separation during the opening sequence for each scent. They both start out very nicely and it mostly depends what mood I’m in when selecting between them.

Edge: Push

Projection

Both of these scents are rather moderate in how they project. I think Burberry for Men feels a little bit bolder based on the mint note while Brit is a softer and perhaps cleaner type of an experience. For that reason, I’ll give the nod to Burberry for Men but it isn’t a huge gap.

Edge: Burberry

Longevity

Both have good performance in this category. However, I usually get better wear out of Brit despite it being a softer cologne. Burberry for men usually gets 6-7 hours while Brit is hovering around 8. Again, not a big difference but a bit of an edge.

Edge: Brit

Versatility

Burberry for Men and Brit are both great and safe for casual everyday wear. I’ve worn both on dates but I’d say Burberry for Men is the sexier one between the two. Though, neither are really nightlife colognes. These are autumn/winter fragrances, so, don’t expect to wear either in the heat. I’d say Burberry for Men is best in fall and Brit is better in winter.

Edge: Push (maybe slight Burberry)

Overall Scent

Gahhhh, I really like both of these scents (as well as London). Burberry makes some very good everyday wear colognes for men. So, to me, it comes down to my particular mood that day.

Update: I’m changing my pick to Brit. I picked up another bottle of both of these and Brit was what I wanted to use a lot more often.

On the other hand, Brit is a great all around buy and it will work for most guys. If you like something more woodsy/masculine Burberry for Men is right in the middle between London (more masculine and woodsy) and Brit.

Brit definitely has a softer green/powdery kind of scent, so if that’s not your thing go with Burberry for Men.

Winner: Brit (barely)

Voyage by Nautica

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There are some fragrances that are standouts and very popular no matter the price point. The inexpensive scents of the bunch can go on to be best sellers and be well regarded by those around a man while he wears these colognes.

One such scent, is an offering by Nautica called Voyage. This was released in 2006. In this review I want to take a closer look at the fragrance and see if Voyage is really all its cracked up to be.

As usual, I will asses what’s the ingredients, how they smell, how it performs, when it should be worn and whether or not it is actually worth a purchase.

What Does Nautica Voyage Smell Like?

Also see: Nautica Voyage N-83 Cologne Review and Voyage vs N-83 Cologne Comparison

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Notes include: apple, musk, cedar, lotus, amber, mimosa, and oak moss

Click here to try: Nautica Voyage on Amazon

My Full Nautica Voyage Review

The first thing that I notice about Voyage is how it gives off that vibe of late spring and summertime. It is an aquatic cologne. But one that has a different type of summery feel to it than the much more expensive, Creed Imperial or something of similar price range like Set Sail St. Barts.

It is less oceanic than other scents from Nautica or even those two colognes that I just mentioned, it is softer and has more of a woodsy influence to it. The other colognes tend to have, notes of sea water or salt, to give it that purely oceanic feel.

The amber lurks in the background to lend a layer of warmth. With Voyage, it is more like a crisp watery aroma, than a oceanic one.

Here’s how Nautica describes this scent:

For a man setting sail on his own heroic journey, capturing his adventurous spirit as he navigates his endeavors with precision and passion. 

It opens with an apple note, watery notes, mimosa, and some prominent musk. Voyage has that cold watery scent, that you typically associate with cucumber or dew. It’s a light non-oceanic aquatic aroma.

Underneath all of that, the scent has a green/floral undertone with wet moss (the dew smell) plus lotus/mimosa.

I like the apple note here, it isn’t like a candied apple aroma, that you get from a lot of other fragrances. Instead, it is much more naturalistic, and light.

Sometimes, the opening bit of time wearing this gets on my nerves, as I don’t really care for the lotus and mimosa influence upfront. However, Voyage definitely settles down into something more pleasant and summery. Just those floral notes, with the musk, can have to ‘green’ of a smell.

As the composition moves along, I pick up more of the cedar and oakmoss, to go along with that apple. It still retains that dew-iness, but the musk is less pronounced, and Voyage becomes cleaner and smoother.

The base gives it a drier profile, with an outdoorsy freshness, feeling less aquatic towards the end of the wear.

It is also during this time, that there does emerge a slight saltiness. To my nose, its really not that much at all, and there are plenty of other colognes that have a really salty profile. It’s just a pinch underneath the green. It is the amber note, doings its job, it just isn’t a very strong aspect of this composition.

However, where it does seem to line up with these other summertime aquatics is its use of a fruit note, in this case apple. The apple gives it a light and crisp fragrance that can only be described a refreshing.

Keep in mind, this isn’t a sexy night life scent, Nautica Voyage is a daytime wear all the way. It has a youthful sensibility and subtle charm to it that makes people come back for more. It’s actually pretty straightforward and linear, once you get about an hour into the wear.

Voyage Sillage and How Long Does it Last?

Projection wise, it’s pretty good. This isn’t a heavy cologne, nor should it be. However, this isn’t one which projects like a beast, so keep that in mind. It’s a moderate and fresh cologne that is bright and shines in the warm weather.

When I first apply it, it is fairly noticeable from 5 to 7 feet (I’ve tested this out on clothing and it is about the same), it then dries down to hang much closer to the skin.

Longevity wise I’d say it’s moderate, depending on the day or the person’s skin chemistry, it can vary in length of time…7 hours is what I find the max to be for my skin.

Some folks, seem to get better wear, but honestly 7 hours is pretty good for most purposes. Other times, it will be closer to five hours. It will just depend on the climate and your personal skin chemistry.

When Should It Be Worn?

Seasonally, I’d wear this in spring and summer. It holds up fine in the colder months, it just seems out of place. Even if I’ll wear Voyage when it’s hot out, I never really apply it in the winter, as there are so many better choices built for the cold.

This is a daytime casual cologne to be worn at school or work. Again, not a nightlife scent by any stretch, but a very good and affordable option for daily use.

This is an inexpensive option, so, it isn’t some crazy formal scent by any means. However, it doesn’t strike me as just being for teenagers, and can work well for older guys who just want a cheap casual scent.

Does Voyage Smell Good Overall?

Overall, is Voyage worth a purchase? Yes, it is a fantastic and inexpensive choice for men. It is better than many other fragrances which cost multiple times as much, smells great, and performs well during the warmer months of the year.

I would recommend giving it a try. The key here is the price versus what you get for the money.

To me, it’s not the greatest cologne in the world, but it’s just such a good value. It performs well, is pleasant to wear, and isn’t going to choke anyone out of a room.

It really fits a certain vibe and will continue to be a best seller for a long time. I like to throw it on before the gym or when I’m just hanging around, on a summer’s day. That’s when it fits. I’m not always in the mood for it, but I do still enjoy Nautica Voyage, every so often.

Spice & Wood by Creed

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I received three sample vials of Creed fragrances from the Royal Exclusive line of scents. I was interested in trying these fragrances out to see if any of them really lived up to the expensive nature of being such an ‘exclusive’ bottle of perfume. Today’s contestant is Spice & Wood, which wins in the most obvious title category, but does it live up to it’s high profile?

In this post, I am going to share my experience wearing this Creed frag, how it smells, how it performs, and whether or not I think it is worth the money.

What does Spice & Wood Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, cedar, birch, musk, lemon, apple, pepper, oak moss

My Full Review

The opening of Spice & Wood is where I detect the citrus notes, particularly that familiar bergamot that is found in Aventus. It’s subtle, but it’s there. Then, of course, is the main attraction the wood and the spice.

It should be noted that this fragrance is pretty damn linear, what you expect to get from the title, is exactly what you get throughout. Cedar, birch, and pepper with an underlying softness from the other notes.

Spice & Wood is a rather fresh fragrance, which is nice, as I thought that it could be a heavy type of woodsy scent but it is actually well done. It’s got a dry warmth and the spice is tempered and never a really heavy pepper note.

The wood notes remind me of being in a cabin or ski lodge, very comfortable yet still outdoorsy.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection is okay on this one. It’s closer to a skin scent and is actually fairly soft, which is fine, but for the price point I was expecting something with a little bit more of a high profile.

It’s longevity wasn’t great for me either. I’ve routinely sprayed twice in the same spot on my arm during my trial runs with this and while it’s detectable it’s mostly gone within a few hours. Not impressed.

This is a casual scent best used for the fall/winter months. I don’t see it as a date night fragrance nor a club type of scent. Very straightforward. I guess it could also venture into more formal occasions.

The one thing that I would like to point out is the pricing point. As a part of the Royal Exclusives line, Spice & Wood is even more expensive than the regular Creed fragrances. In fact, the 2.5 oz bottle is currently priced at $545.

Of course, this limits the appeal of this scent to those who can afford it, but even if you can pony up the cash…do you really even want it?

 

 

Overall Impressions of Spice & Wood

Overall, I like this scent. It’s pleasant and smells good. Just at this price level, I really can’t recommend it. The performance is lackluster and unless you’re really a fan of spices and wood, the aroma is never Earth-shattering.

There are plenty of better options than Spice & Wood and you don’t have to spend over $500 in the process. Honestly, I don’t see the point of owning this. Perhaps, it’s just a status type symbol. Though, I don’t know who it would impress exactly.