Fragrances

9 Colognes that Smell like Soap

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There are many different types of fragrances, from the super spicy, to the complete oceanic. However, there is also a class of scents that gets overlooked, because it can fit into any category really…that is the soapy smelling cologne.

Yes, there are a great deal of scents for men, which deliver the cleanliness of a classic soap or one that is a bit more modern. In this post, I want to cover nine examples, for guys who want a soapy cologne.

What are the Best Smelling Colognes that Smell Like Soap?

Citrus, Lavender, and Tobacco

Dolce & Gabbana Dolce & Gabbana By Dolce & Gabbana for Men 6.7 Oz Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.7 Oz– D&G Pour Homme feels like a powdery kind of soap. It starts off with a heavy dose of lavender, which is flanked by spices, citrus, and neroli. The sage and pepper note give this a spicy opening act.

Once that settles, you get a fragrance that is mainly lavender and tobacco, with neroli and the remaining citrus coming through. Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme has a relatively soft sillage, but can easily be an office or daily wear. D&G Pour Homme Review

Sandalwood Soapiness

Taylor of Old Bond Street Sandalwood Cologne, 100 ml– Taylor of Old Bond Street is almost a pure sandalwood fragrance, which pairs this awesome note, with mainly lavender. This is an older classic fragrance which adds floral notes like lavender, carnation, and geranium to the woody mix.

It is low key and a softer scent, but not weak. Taylor of Old Bond Street’s Sandalwood, is dry and comforting, and quite affordable.

Taylor’s Sandalwood gives you a cleaner fragrance, without the spices, found in some of the others on the list. Gets fairly soapy at times, with the sandalwood/lavender mix. Then, it can be powdery and fresh.

Bright Metallic Citrus

Chrome Cologne for Men 3.4 fl. oz Eau De Toilette– A very clean and fresh cologne that can become a man’s daily wear fragrance at a very inexpensive price. Chrome is simple yet a quite potent blend of citrus notes. Is it completely like a lather sort of cologne? No, but all together you get a very similar effect.

Chrome starts off with it strong juicy citrus notes of pineapple and lemon, giving the cologne a bright and upbeat disposition. These two are joined by a very nice neroli, giving chrome a further semi-soapy cleanliness.

During the wear, you will notice aquatic aromas, a slight metallic air, and woods at the base. Chrome is a classic, still has a good performance, and smells great all these years later. Very easy to wear and perpetually popular. Chrome review

chrome

Classic Clean Acqua di Parma

Acqua Di Parma Essenza Eau De Cologne Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce–  A shockingly clean and refined composition of citrus and herbal/floral notes. Essenza screams class and with it’s fantastic performance, this is one to reach for during the warmer months of the year, and shares a lot of similarities with Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino Forte. In this one, you get plenty of orange, grapefruit, and bergamot.

Naturally, this is put together with neroli, as is so common in summertime scents. The citrus at opening is juicy and somewhat sharp, then, it dries down more into a soapy sort of scent.

Especially later in the wear, you can pick up rosemary and oakmoss, but Essenza is very well-blended and can be difficult to decipher. Nonetheless, you get yourself a classically styled unisex perfume, that is highly attractive though not heavy-handed.

Daily Wear Citrus and Floral

Calvin Klein ETERNITY for Men Eau de Toilette, 1.6 Fl Oz– Eternity gives you a burst of citrus and lavender, in the opening stage of the wear. It’s very bright and fresh, and still, an absolute classic.

While you do get citrus, florals, and spices like sage. Eternity ultimately relies on sandalwood, lavender, and vetiver to give it that familiar clean aroma. Yes, you get the soapiness, but the green herbal and woody dry down is where I think this Calvin Klein cologne is at its best.

I’ve always gotten solid projection from this one, and the modern bottles, will last from 5-7 hours on my skin. Not amazing performance, but quite good for the price point. Eternity for Men Review

eternity

Green Minty Sport Fragrance

Polo Sport by Ralph Lauren for Men 4.2 oz Eau de Toilette Spray– Fresh, sport, and an absolute throwback to the 1990s and is iconic Ralph Lauren. Polo Sport was one of the first fragrances that I loved, when I was a kid. That opening act with lemon and orange, flanked by notes of cool spicy mint, is still captivating.

Lavender and neroli, create a nice trio with the mint, to deliver its soapy and dynamic smell. However, my favorite part comes when this has the time to settle down.

Polo Sport has a light seaweed touch, giving it is aquatic edge. That along with its clean profile, minty disposition and the inclusion of floral notes; make it a great wear to this day. It’s changed a bit since its original release, but this is still a very wearable cologne that folks enjoy. Polo Sport Review

Vetiver Soapy Scent

Creed Original Vetiver Men Millesime Spray, 4 Ounce – Creed Original Vetiver is a hyper clean and masculine use of vetiver and citrus with a classic soapy quality. I always feel energized after applying Original Vetiver, as the fragrance just seems to strike an upbeat and positive chord.

It’s not a complex sort of cologne, rather, it is linear but everything that it needs to be. This vetiver is a modern style with an older soul. Solid choice for business or casual wear. It all comes together as very clean, with good performance that will last a full work day.

The opening citrus is bright and really a highlight of this fragrance. There is some iris and sandalwood, in here as well, but they definitely don’t hit the same heights as the citrus and vetiver. Original Vetiver Review

Green Aquatic

Davidoff Cool Water Edt Spray for Men, 6.7 oz– Cool Water is an extremely famous fragrance, which dates back to the 1980s, and has quite the soapy opening act. The entire wear, has a similar feeling, but it is most pronounced up top.

Mint and tobacco give the opening a green and fresh air, which is then paired with both lavender and neroli. Yes, it gets more aquatic and woody, as it moves along. However, the main wood note is sandalwood, which helps to keep it in the category we want here.

Cool Water is still extremely affordable and an easy fragrance to fall back on, for men who want a clean daily wear. Cool Water Review

High End Floral and Citrus

Tom Ford Neroli Portofino 1.7 oz Eau de Parfum Spray– Yes, I like Neroli Portofino Forte better, but the original is still a very good neroli based scent. Neroli Portofino is more floral, but does have an opening act which features lemon, to go along with the neroli and orange blossom.

It has a soapy profile and becomes even more floral as it dries down, as jasmine really starts to come through underneath the neroli. Clean and leans more feminine (still unisex, though), great for warm weather, with pretty good performance. Read my review

Nautica Blue by Nautica

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Here in my latest installment of fragrance reviews, I’m going to take a closer look at Nautica Blue. This scent is in the lower end in terms of price for men’s colognes. It was released in 2005 by Nautica and has been one of the best selling ‘cheapies’ on the market since.

There can be some good deals and great finds at really affordable  prices. Is Blue actually one of them? What are the notes? What does it smell like? How long does it last? Read below for my take. Also see: Nautica Voyage N-83 Review and Nautica Blue vs. Nautica Voyage Comparison

What does Nautica Blue Smell Like?

nblue

Notes include: Musk, cedar, bergamot, sandalwood, peach, pineapple, water lily, jasmine

Click here to try: Nautica Blue Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 fluid ounce

My Full Wear Review

Nautica Blue contains fruit notes such as bergamot, peach, and pineapple. However, I wouldn’t classify it as a fruity fragrance at all. It’s more along the lines of an aquatic/woody scent and the fruit notes add a layer of freshness to it.

While they don’t smell the same at all, I am reminded of Polo Sport when I try out Nautica Blue, as they share the cedar, musk, sandalwood, and bergamot notes. It’s that same clean type of marine aroma you would get from Polo Sport but the Polo fragrance is way better, in my opinion.

The opening of Nautica Blue can actually be quite harsh, with the newest formulations on the market, the start of this scent has a sharp detergent-like smell. This really wasn’t as prominent with older bottles or maybe my memory of those is clouded.

Either way, the bergamot and pineapple, are super sharp at the top. Then, the cedar and heavier musk come in and give it that laundry sort of smell.

As it dries down, the sharpness is muted somewhat by the woody notes like the cedar and sandalwood. The musk also falls back and the floral notes become much more prominent for the rest of the wear.

Water lily and jasmine are the flowery ingredients, which go together with the pineapple and citrus bergamot, as the main attractions once this has had time to settle on the skin.

To describe this cologne I would use the words fresh, crisp, clean, soapy, aquatic. It’s a very safe and straightforward fragrance that won’t surprise you with anything unique but it won’t overwhelm you either.

I do find the cologne somewhat attractive, it is pretty basic however, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing for the price you’d pay for a bottle.

I really don’t like the opening, in these newer bottles, it’s way too sharp for my nose but it does quiet down a lot.

In some ways, this is a victim of some re-formulation. It’s been around for decades now, so, it was bound to happen. But, I do think that the quality has slipped, on the newer bottles.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

It’s projection is fairly moderate and definitely seems to have a short half life. So, it’ll go from a moderate opening to a lighter dry down.  Nautica Blue is usually going to last anywhere between 2-5 hours, depending on the circumstances in which you wear it.

Not a great longevity by any means but at this price point, one could afford to respray it as needed. At this roughly $15-25 price range, you’re not going to get too many scents that both smell great and last for a long time, it just what it is.

However, this isn’t terrible in terms of performance.

Seasonally, this works best in the warmer months of the year. It’s a nice refresher on summer days, as it can take the heat, and actually still smell like its supposed to. It holds up for the rest of the year, also, it just is at its best when the weather is hot.

I’d call this a casual fragrance. It’s safe and not overwhelming. Nautica Blue is a solid starter cologne for the younger guys out there. So, high school through college. Or just someone who needs an inexpensive and clean scent to spray on certain days.

That sharply fresh and soapy sort of scent, isn’t one that screams out, ‘romantic wear’ or nightlife fragrance. It’s a basic freshie, that can be had for super cheap.

Overall Impressions of Nautica Blue

Overall, I’d say it’s a decent buy, but nothing that will blow you away. It’s a good way to smell fresh during the warmer months of the year and could be a solid option for a guy on a tight budget.

I prefer Nautica Voyage over this. However, you might prefer Blue between those two. That’s usually not the case, for most people, though.

I think that this is still one of the best smelling Nautica colognes, but rather middling versus other brands in this price range.

That’s not too big of an accomplishment, as the brand has put out a lot of duds over the years. This one is still okay versus the rest of the competition at this price. It was better than it’s current form, at one time.

Fresh, simple, and you know what you’re getting out of it.

Invictus vs. Invictus Legend Cologne Comparison

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Paco Rabanne has released a new flanker fragrance to the Invictus lineup. Naturally, we will want to know how it compares to the original, which is better in the match up between: Invictus vs. Invictus Legend. Does Legend meet expectations or does it pale in comparison to the original release from the brand? Which lasts longer? Smells better? Is the best buy?

Tale of the Tape

Invictus

Notes include: grapefruit, sea notes, mandarin orange, bay leaf, jasmine

Read my review

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Invictus Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

Invictus Legend

Notes include: grapefruit, amber, geranium, metal, mead accord, guaiac wood, laurel, sea salt, bay leaf

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Invictus Legend eau de parfum for men 3.4 Fl Oz

Read my Review: Invictus Legend

Opening

The original Invictus opens up with its citrus notes, ambergris, and bay leaf. The aroma this produces, has often been described as, grape bubble gum. That’s fairly accurate and underneath this is a bit of the sea notes, giving Invictus a light aquatic feel.

Invictus Legend also starts off with a strong citrus, yet, it feels more tropical in its presentation than grape bubblegum. The grapefruit and lemon is joined by a heavier dose of the aquatic notes and amber, with the bay leaf barely registering.

Yes, these two do smell similar, but are still quite distinct. The opening of Invictus is really enjoyable and the sweetness has grown on me over time. However, I think that I enjoy the start of Legend, a bit more. The citrus is more intense and you get some fresh spiciness later on. The amber is also, more noticeable.

Edge: Legend

Projection

Invictus has always felt like a strong cologne, at first, and then moves into something that is moderate. Does Legend surpass it? Yes. Legend has a more powerful sillage, at the top, and remains stronger throughout the rest of the wear. It’s not the most powerful fragrance out there, but it does pack a punch early on.

Edge: Legend

Longevity

With Invictus EDT, I have continually gotten 6-7 hour of wear, on my skin. It’s not insanely good, by any means, but definitely respectable. Meanwhile, Invictus Legend goes a bit further. With its greater power, Legend can last for somewhere in the 8-10 hour range, which is quite good.

Edge: Legend

Versatility

To me, there isn’t much separation here, as the ingredients are so similar that the uses will overlap. Both are great in the warm weather, but Legend does have more of a summertime feel. Both can go daytime or into the nightlife, without issue. Not seeing a winner, in this category.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

The original Invictus has never been my favorite scent. I used to be mostly indifferent toward it, and now, I do like it more. The opening is still the most enjoyable part to me and the performance is good enough. I understand why it is so popular and has gotten so many fans.

However, I have already enjoyed Invictus Intense more than the original, and now I will add Invictus Legend to that list. Legend is like a more citrus/marine version of Intense, sort of like a summer addition, and does everything better than Invictus EDT.

The performance and sillage is greater. The citrus notes give it a tropical edge, while the amber is deeper and more intense.

I have to say, it feels more balanced and energetic than the original. For those reasons, I have to give Invictus Legend, the win here.

Winner: Invictus Legend

Acqua di Gio vs Azzaro Chrome Cologne Comparison

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For this men’s fragrance comparison, we are going to be taking a closer look at two insanely popular fragrance from the 1990s, Azzaro Chrome vs. Acqua di Gio. Which of these citrus aquatic scents, is the better wear? Which lasts longer? Which should you buy? I have worn, tested, and reviewed each and will break them down by category before declaring an ultimate winner.

Tale of the Tape: Chrome vs. AdG

Acqua di Gio

Notes include: bergamot, tangerine, neroli, jasmine, rosemary, patchouli, rock rose, hyacinth, persimmon, marine notes

Click here to try: Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

Read my review: Acqua di Gio 

Azzaro Chrome

Click here to try: Men’s Chrome by Azzaro Eau de Toilette Spray – 3.4 oz.

Notes include: neroli, lemon, bergamot, rosemary, pineapple, musk, woods, and jasmine

Read my review: Chrome Review

Opening

Acqua di Gio opens up with a nice citrus blend of tangerine and bergamot. These two top notes are joined by marine notes of an ocean quality, and then, floral notes of neroli and jasmine.

It’s nice with the sea notes and the citrus. I like the addition of the jasmine, in particular, and the spices which gradually arise during the wear. Having come back to this fragrance after a long absence, the citrus and jasmine really struck me as being fantastic.

Chrome opens with lemon and pineapple, which is a sharper pairing, than is found in AdG. It too, has jasmine and neroli, in the beginning.

Do the two smell similar? Ehh, there are somewhat related but, AdG has a spicier and less sharp profile. Chrome is bright with a vaguely aquatic aroma lurking in there, with more of a soapy/woody scent.

Which is better? It’s really close, as I enjoy both of these colognes and how they start. Ultimately, I think I prefer Acqua di Gio’s opening act, a bit more. The oceanic sea breeze, with the tangerine and bergamot, is what I think gives it a slight edge.

Edge: Acqua di Gio

Projection

Chrome can strike me as pretty bold, right at the start, but later settles down into a moderate. It’s a pretty similar experience with Acqua di Gio, which is also, fairly moderate. I really don’t see much separation with the current sillage of each.

Older editions may have had a marked difference. Nowadays, they’re basically equals.

Edge: Push

Longevity

With Acqua di Gio, I get about 6-7 hours of wear, on my skin. It’s respectable, but not amazing. Azzaro Chrome will get me 7-8 hours of wear. It’s not a huge difference, but Chrome is better with how long it lasts.

Update: Trying AdG some more, it seems to be a 5-7 hour range. A few times, I don’t think it reached the six hour mark.

Edge: Chrome

Versatility

Both of these colognes are great in the warmer months of the year. They really do smell fantastic, when the temperatures rise, but can go year round without issue. Both are good for casual wear, daily office wear, or even to school for younger men.

Neither is much of a nighttime fragrance exclusively, but can venture into that world. Again, there’s not much separation, and they occupy the same niche essentially.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Each of these fragrances, has been a best seller since the 1990s, and there’s good reason for that.

Chrome is a great daily wear cologne, that has a lot of fans, and it does get plenty of complements. It is fresh, upbeat, with aquatic and woody undertones.

It has a soapy clean smell with a unique metallic edge. It’s really easy to just grab and spray on, without much though, and has good performance.

However, if I’m just going on smell alone, I’d give the edge to Acqua di Gio. It is more interesting to me. I like the spiciness, the floral undertones, the oceanic influence, and those awesome citrus notes. It would be my choice, if each were priced the same.

I will say, that you can usually get Chrome for a cheaper price (sometimes, it’s reversed). If that were the major deciding factor, I’d buy that over the Armani cologne. Nonetheless, AdG is the winner of this match up for me. They are extremely close and it’s not a clear cut choice.

Winner: Acqua di Gio

Angel Men Pure Havane by Thierry Mugler

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It’s been a while since I’ve done a review of a Thierry Mugler cologne on the site. The last time being, B*Men, which I actually grew to enjoy quite a bit after my initial mixed reaction. I recently received another sample with one of my cologne orders, and it’s one of the flanker fragrances of the Angel Men (A*Men) series, Pure Havane.

While I’ve smelled this cologne before, I was wanting to give Pure Havane a longer try, and see exactly how it smells, performs, and whether or not it is worth a purchase. In this post, I will share my thoughts of my experience with this fragrance and try to flesh out a bit as to what this tobacco based juice is all about.

What Does Pure Havane Smell Like?

Notes include: tobacco leaves, honeyed tobacco, patchouli, and bitter cocoa

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Eau de Toilette Spray, Angel Men Pure Havane, 3.4 Ounce

A*Men Pure Havane

The opening of Pure Havane is quite simple. Imagine a fine Cuban cigar dipped in honey and then rolled in a pile of sugar…that’s what this smells exactly like. It’s a very warm, sweet, and slightly sticky sort of smell that is actually quite beautiful and enthralling.

Although, it isn’t listed in the notes, I also detect a hint of vanilla which provides an extra creamy smoothness. Now, if this doesn’t sound like your kind of thing, look elsewhere. However, if you like rich and masculine scents, then Pure Havane is a masterpiece of fragrance.

The tobacco note in this is dominant but it is a rather different experience than something such as Burberry London, the tobacco in Pure Havane is a much lighter and sweeter smelling variety.

As it wears on, the honey note lessens and the vanilla scent gets pushed more into the foreground. Also, the cocoa note emerges and smells like a chocolate powder to me, it must be the way it blends with the honey and vanilla.

There’s a bit of earth spice here, from patchouli, but it mostly stays in the background. The dry down of Pure Havane is all about the rich tobacco and thick honey, with all of the other sweet notes, orbiting these two. Not too much development from this fragrance, but it’s very good in its contained style.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, A*Men Pure Havane is really good. It isn’t overwhelming, but it is on the strong side of things. It doesn’t require that many sprays to be effective, which is a relief with so many weak colognes out there.

The reach does decline during the wear, but the first hours are pretty potent.

It also has really good longevity, this is an all-day kind of scent. However, be aware that it is much more of a skin scent after 5-6 hours but with reasonable application it should still be noticeable.

Pure Havane is for cold weather. If you live in a climate that is hot year round, you probably shouldn’t bother with this at all. I fear it would become a complete mess in the heat, yet, it is so beautiful in the cold weather.

I would say you could wear this to pretty much whatever event you would want to and it seems perfectly acceptable for school and work. Plus, this is a sexy type of cologne. Great for dates or just wanting to get closer. Pure Havane is a very comfy sort of scent.

Overall Impression of Pure Havane

Overall, is Pure Havane a buy? Yep, while it’s limited to colder weather, it is still a fantastic scent and performer. This A*Men flanker is a layered gourmand fragrance with tobacco taking center stage in its profile.

Not everyone enjoys this kind of cologne, so if you’re more into fruity, dry woods, or aquatics then this probably isn’t going to be a good selection.

On the other hand, if you like sweet winter scents (that aren’t sickly sweet) and rich tobacco blends then Pure Havane is an excellent choice.

I think that the opening can be overwhelming or messy at times, but, this one does settle down and get better as it moves along. Not a super mature scent, but it can work well for guys through their 20s and 30s, with exceptions.

The A*Men line has produced some awesome colognes, over the years, and this is among the best.

Update: All of these ‘Pure’ fragrances got discontinued by Mugler.