Fragrances

L’Homme Ideal EDT by Guerlain

by

Looking through my haul of fragrance samples, I noticed that I had two scents with the L’Homme Ideal moniker. They had two separate colored sprayers and information cards but I really didn’t know if there was a difference.

It turns out that L’Homme Ideal (the subject of this review) has a flanker fragrance called L’Homme Ideal Cologne…yes, they just added the word cologne to it.

Anyways, I grabbed the original, and decided to wear it around for purposes of this review. I’m going to cover all of the usual stuff in this post, how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, etc. Please continue reading below for my full take.

What Does L’Homme Ideal Smell Like?

Notes include: almond, citrus, leather, tonka bean, bitter orange, orange blossom, vetiver, and cedar

Click here to try: Guerlain L’Homme Ideal EDT Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of L’Homme Ideal is a fresh blast of almond and woody spice. Lurking in the background is a sweetness that is quite nice and flanked by the leather note. I love the nuttiness of the opening act and how it also gets paired with a blend of citrus notes.

The citrus is fresh and reminds me somewhat of the Cologne version of Ideal, but this one still stays in more of a nutty/leathery mode, in totality.

The overall sweetness never strays into the ‘girly perfume’ territory as it sits atop the leather, vetiver, and cedar notes. This gives L’Homme Ideal an excellent platform to start from.

One thing that I really enjoy about this gourmand fragrance, is the inclusion of the citrus notes. They are never overpowering or brought out as the main attraction in this cologne, but they do provide an energy, and a change of pace from the rest of the composition.

The citrus isn’t huge throughout, but this blend does hang around, giving Ideal the slightest clean boost throughout its time on my skin.

Of course, there is the smooth warmth of the tonka bean, which is one of my personal favorites. The almond is the main star in this fragrance and during the dry down period, it kind of reminds me of Man in Black by Blvgari, as it has a warm spiciness that is sort of like an alcoholic drink.

I get a smooth and creamy blend during the final stages, that is peppered with some rosemary herbal spice. Leather, tonka bean, and almond with a fresh base of cedar and cool vetiver. When L’Homme Ideal is performing well, it is a fantastic smelling cologne.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s pretty moderate. It’s not an absolute monster in this regard but it does the job pretty well. Longevity, is decent most of the time.

I’ve worn it a few times and I’ll get 4 good hours out of it and the 6-7 the next time. It’s not great, but it’s passable.

I’ve been wearing this here in June, after the official start of summer, but it’s not really built for the hot days outside. It’s fine at night when it cools off a bit, but L’Homme Ideal would excel during the colder months of the year, like a lot of fragrances seem to do.

I would try to wear this during autumn through early spring, preferably. Again, in the evening hours of the summer, it holds up pretty well on my skin. Though, I try to stay indoors, for optimal sillage and longevity.

It does have a good versatility, as it’s subtle enough to wear at work yet still quite sexy and attractive to wear on a date. The more that I went through the sample, the more it grew on me, and the more complements I received.

I think the first few hours is going to be when you’ll actually get complemented on Ideal. After that, it might have turned too light for many people to notice, outside of those who are close by.

Overall Impression of Guerlain L’Homme Ideal

Overall, I think L’Homme Ideal EDT is great. It is one of my favorites from the batch of around 40 or so samples that I recently got. The longevity could be better but aside from that, it smells fantastic, and is very well put together.

I do feel like, I already have a million options in the Fall/Winter space, like Man in Black or Armani Code Profumo. So, I’m not sure if I’ll pick up a full bottle at some point, but it is worth looking into.

Update: Coming back to this fragrance and working my way through the rest of the sample, I can say, that I truly enjoyed wearing this fragrance. The scent itself, is super attractive and great to wear. The performance could be better, and if it was an elite performer, it’d probably make my list of best colognes.

Boss Bottled Night by Hugo Boss

by

I’ve done some Hugo Boss cologne reviews recently and even have few samples of this brand’s other scents on the way, so, I thought that it’d be a good idea before reviewing those to do one on Bottled Night.

I had already included this in my best Hugo Boss fragrances for guys but never got around to writing up a review of this scent.

I generally like most of the stuff that they put out (except Energise…) and have been wearing Hugo Red a lot this summer, so I’m a mood now to tackle Bottled Night. As usual, I’ll cover the scent’s smell, how it performs, when it can be worn, and whether or not it is worth a buy.

What does Boss Bottled Night Smell Like?

Notes include: African violet, birch leaves, musk, lavender, amarello wood

Click here to try: Boss Bottled Night by Hugo Boss for Men – 3.3 Ounce EDT Spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Boss Bottled Night is somewhat of a surprise, in that, when looking at the container and the name you’d think you would be getting something quite dark and mysterious.

However, what you find is a very clean scent powered by the lavender note and with a beautiful hint of floral provided by the African Violet. Add musk and you get an underlying warmth to go along with a masculine woodsy note.

Upon the opening, I really do pick up a lot of the violet. I must say, that violet isn’t one of my favorite floral notes, but it does work well within this composition.

The birch note is super dry, with a very slight smokiness to it, at times.

As we move forward, the lavender emerges more fully, and is joined by a light musk note. This is about as much development, as you’re going to get from Bottled Night. It’s a mix of lavender and violet, with dry woods, and some musky touches.

One of the things that I really appreciate about Bottled Night is how unique it feels. Like, it is pretty simple and straightforward in how it plays out, but it really doesn’t smell like anything else I can think of in the world of cologne. It is a soft scent yet has a very nice ability to project itself.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

As I said, the sillage is pretty good here. Again, not a heavy fragrance by any means, but people will be able to pick it up on you with in a decent radius. At least for the first few hours of wear.

Longevity wise, it is in the realm of average, which is weird since it does a good job of projecting. Six hours seems to be the demarcation point for Boss Bottled Night, after that it tends to fade.

It is a versatile fragrance, I really can’t pin it down for a season, as I could see it working for multiple weather situations. It’s a fragrance that could go from the office to a night out on the town without much problem.

Yes, it is called bottled night, but it isn’t really one that would stand out as being ‘too much’ for daytime use. Really, never has struck me as a particularly dark or nightlife exclusive cologne. It has a clean, well put together aroma, for guys with a more stylish or mature air about them.

Overall Impression of Boss Bottled Night

Overall, would I recommend it? Yes, it is definitely a very nice cologne and it unique smell only adds to its appeal. It isn’t very complex, clean/floral/musk, so you definitely know what you’re getting within a few minutes of wear.

I’m not that much into violet as a note, so this will never be my favorite. Though, I can appreciate it for what it is.

Boss Bottled Night does everything at least pretty well and is quite sexy for what it is. If you want something clean, simple, at a good price, then this should work out for you. If you don’t like violet or lavender that much, then avoid Bottled Night.

The performance is decent, in my experience, but not amazing. I think this will appeal to a certain percentage of guys, but doesn’t necessarily have that super wide universal x-factor.

Oud Wood vs Ombre Leather Comparison

by

In this edition of the head to head fragrance comparisons, we have two entries from the Tom Ford line up, Oud Wood vs. Ombre Leather 18. Which of these two popular scents smells the best?

As always, I am going to break down these competitors into categories, determine which has the edge, and is the ultimate winner between them. I’ve linked my original review of each below, for further reading.

Tale of the Tape: Ombre Leather vs Oud Wood

Ombre Leather

Notes include: leather, moss, jasmine, amber, patchouli and cardamom

Click here to try: Ombré Leather Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7-oz.

My review: Ombre Leather

Oud Wood

Notes include: rosewood, sandalwood, oud, vanilla, tonka bean, amber, cardamom, and vetiver

Click here to try: Tom Ford Private Blend Oud Wood Eau De Parfum Spray – 50ml/1.7oz

Read my original review: Oud Wood

Opening

Oud Wood opens up with that oud note and cardamom. It also has a peppery spice to it from the jump, that settles as it moves along. Beyond that, there is heavy wood notes from the rosewood and sandalwood.

Plus, a nice dry vetiver. It’s nice, spicy, and has a very woody base. So, you get a nice punch before this one moves fully into what its name suggests is on its way.

Ombre Leather opens with leather, jasmine, moss, and saffron. It’s a very dark and dry with supple leathery warmth and a certain earthy quality to it all. To me, it does capture that desert-like mood that they used in the advertising.

It reminds me a lot of Godolphin, at the start, but ultimately is different from that scent.

Ombre, of course has that standout leather note, but there’s actually depth to it and I like that the brand didn’t just add a fruity note to it. The jasmine and saffron create a really interesting dynamic here.

Which is better? I like Oud Wood and its interesting opening, but I really enjoy Ombre Leather more. The saffron and leather combo is superb, always catches my attention.

Edge: Ombre Leather

Projection

Ombre Leather starts off strong on my skin and then becomes a moderate scent after a few hours of wear. The sillage is pretty strong, overall.

Ombre projects itself well, while not being overbearingly heavy, there is that mossy freshness sitting underneath the main notes.

Oud Wood is really moderate at first and then becomes quite weak. The Intense version of this was stronger and heavier, but this original sits much closer to the skin and doesn’t bog you down.

Which, might be a good thing for you, but I wouldn’t expect it to have a massive projection unless you go crazy with the sprays.

Edge: Ombre Leather

Longevity

Neither of these scents are elite in terms of how long they will last. I get 6-8 hours of wear from Ombre Leather.

Meanwhile, Oud Wood is pretty pitiful at 4-5 hours.

So, neither of these are among the best performers that Tom Ford has to offer. Oud Wood has always been disappointing to me, each time that I’ve tried it out. Ombre, is serviceable, but definitely not among the elite.

Edge: Ombre Leather

Versatility

I don’t particular see an edge in this category. Both of these fragrances are suited best for autumn and winter. They can be worn casually or dressed up (but favor dressed up), can work well in an office environment, or for a night out.

Neither is really a club beast at all and Ombre Leather is probably a bit sexier and can be more unisex…but not a definitive edge.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I’m not a huge fan of the oud note, but I do enjoy the smell of Oud Wood much more than others, which use that ingredient. They didn’t go overboard with it and create some nearly unwearable fragrance for most people.

It’s nice, it has a great woody base, but can be a bit sour on my skin sometimes. The performance is one of my biggest gripes about this scent, especially at Tom Ford prices.

On the other hand, I really enjoy Ombre Leather. The warm and dry composition, with its rich leather note is awesome, and one of my favorites from this designer.

Add to that, it has better performance than does Oud Wood, and it’s a pretty clear winner in my mind. Ombre is leathery, earthy, with nice floral touches of jasmine and is a pleasure to wear. (Get it here: Ombre Leather)

Winner: Ombre Leather 

5 Best Smelling Incense Scented Colognes

by

The smokey incense note is actually found in many men’s fragrances. However, it isn’t often featured all that prominently. Mostly, it gets used with a light touch, to add a bit more depth to a composition. Though, when it is used correctly, incense can be a great note. In this post, I want to give some options for men who want a nice smelling incensed scented cologne. I ended up with five selections, which should be enough, to get one started.

What are the Top Incense Colognes for Men?

Sweet, Spicy Winter Wear

Yves Saint Laurent Body Kouros for Men, Eau De Toilette, 3.3 Fluid Ounce
Great casual cologne which is a favorite of mine in the winter months. It blends eucalyptus, incense, and woods for a candy sweet fragrance with a bit of spice.

Kouros Body, is a very unique fragrance, that was released by YSL back in 2000. Really, there’s nothing else that smells quite like it, due to the ingredients it used.

The main note is bezoin that is paired with a smokey incense note and a somewhat medicinal eucalyptus. It is very smooth, with an enveloping warmth, and a light spice within the sweetness powered by sage. It is very simple and super fresh.

The sillage was always pretty moderate, but it has a solid wear time. However, when women got close to me while I was wearing this, it usually got me complements. Not too many guys wear this and I was glad to stand out. I reviewed Kouros Body here

rp_KO14M-234x300.jpg

Dark Incense Aquatic

Giorgio Armani Aqua di Gio Profumo, 4.2 Fluid Ounce– A flanker from the original and best-selling Acqua di Gio, AdG Profumo, exceeds the original in my opinion. It is a dark aquatic fragrance with an attractive spice and smoky undertones provided by the incense note.

Profumo starts out with bergamot and deep sea aquatic notes. The composition screams out summertime spent on the coast and is more refined and masculine than its predecessor.

Great salty marine elements with sage and rosemary, giving it all extra heft. Awesome. Acqua di Gio Profumo Review

Smooth, Leather, and Incense

Givenchy Gentlemen Only Intense Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce– Gentlemen Only Intense has a limited usability, being a nighttime wear, and not having the greatest longevity. However, it does have a very nice aroma, and incense note involved quite a lot.

It opens up smooth, warm, and sweet with note of leather, amber, and tonka bean. The smoky incense combines with this sweet and smooth triumvirate, to create a dark and rather unique scent.

You can usually find this for a good price, nowadays. I do wish it had better performance, but it does smell great. Gentlemen Only Intense Review

gentlemen only intense

A Bleu Option

Bleu De Chaneⅼ Eau De Parfum Pour Homme Spray 1.7 Fl. OZ. / 50ML.– You could also go with the EDT version of Bleu here, as well. However, I like the EDP, better overall. It opens up with citrus and spices (grapefruit, mint, ginger, and pink pepper), and then, later shifts into something warmer.

It will be a citrus, amber, and incense blend. Further along, the woodsy notes of cedar and sandalwood, really emerge from the base.

This is a fantastic cologne, not a pure bred example of incense, but there is definitely enough here to qualify. Great performance. Bleu de Chanel EDP Review

Dark Then Floral

Valentino Uomo Noir Absolu For Men Eau de Parfum 3.4 Oz– Uomo Noir Absolu kicks things off with spices of cinnamon and pepper. It also has the iris note, which is in all of the Valentino Uomo fragrances. Noir starts off quite dark and spicy, becomes somewhat sweeter, with a powdered iris.

Later on, is when the incense note comes out as a huge part of this fragrance. It is paired with sandalwood and Uomo Noir takes on more of an oriental blend of aromas.

The performance here is really good, I got 8-10 hours, during testing. An excellent choice for cold weather. Uomo Noir Full Review

5 Best Colognes that Smell Like Baby Powder

by

Most of us grew up with the smell of baby powder being around. It’s probably one of our earliest sensory memories, at least from an aroma standpoint. That clean and fresh smell, the white talcum powder, and just a pleasant memory of our youth. To this day, I still enjoy the scent.

As such, I like to throw on some cologne from time to time, which brings back those memories without the actual white powder mess. In this post, I am going to give you five different options, that will deliver the baby powder freshness in a perfume form.

What Men’s Fragrances Smell Like Baby/Talcum Powder?

Designer Powder

Prada L’homme Prada L’eau for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce– This isn’t my favorite of the Prada L’Homme line (that’d be Intense), but it is the one with most powdery aroma. It is lead by iris and neroli with woody notes at the top.

L’eau is an airy sort of fragrance, but actually hangs around quite well. Later, I pick up the light spice of the ginger note. This isn’t a full on baby powder smell, but it is close, and has enough of a masculine edge to separate itself. L’Homme L’Eau Review.

Greenish Rose

BURBERRY Brit Eau De Toilette for Him– Brit takes the talcum powder smell and adds spice and the scent of roses to it. This men’s fragrances is super fresh and green. It opens with ginger, nutmeg, and a great tonka bean note.

Along with that, is a light mandarin orange note, which adds a dash of citrus to the composition. As it dries down, Brit, really starts to take on the powdery quality. The rose and cedar combine with the tonka bean, and dominate the composition.

You do still have the ginger and nutmeg spices underneath. I really like wearing this one, as you do get that powdery scent, but delivered in a unique way. The sillage is moderate and I tend to get 8 hours of wear from this perfume. Burberry Brit Review

Clean Ginger Baby Powder

Bvlgari BLV By Bvlgari For Men Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Oz– This one also has a ginger spice, but it Blv has a warmer profile with a great cardamom note, and then the awesome smell of juniper berries.

Beyond that you get teak wood and tobacco flower, but all of the notes sort of blend to create, a really clean baby powder aroma. What’s great is that this Bvlgari cologne, isn’t a heavy one, and is still enjoyable to wear when the temperatures are high. Bvlgari Blv Review

Citrus and Iris Powder

Baby Blue Jeans By Gianni Versace For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 1.6 Ounces– Baby Blue Jeans isn’t as good as the original Blue Jeans, but it is still a very good option for the baby or talcum powder segment. 

This Versace scent starts out with some powerful citrus notes, mostly consisting of lime, and finishes with the inclusion of iris and sandalwood. The lime is the main attraction here and has a tart aroma to it, but the powder really ratchets up a few hours in with the iris note.

Baby Blue Jeans isn’t a ‘pure’ baby powder fragrance, the whole way through, but it does offer a nice change of pace from the rest of the list.

Classic Style

Royal Copenhagen By Royal Copenhagen For Men. Cologne Spray 3.4 oz– Royal Copenhagen is a fragrance that has been around for a long time and definitely brings that old school sort of feel.

It is a powdery fragrance, but also has a solid amount of musk, and a calming lavender note to boot. Royal Copenhagen is quite clean, with a definite masculine air about it. This feels very refined and grown up, all at a really nice price point.

Other than that, I really like how the tobacco note floats in and out of a major position within the smell, and it also has a prominent rose note, much like Burberry Brit.