Fragrances

Noir EDP by Tom Ford

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I have been doing a lot of different reviews of other companies’ fragrances as of late, but I am indeed still working my way through a bunch of Tom Ford scents, and today will cover the popular Noir eau de parfum.

This one was released in 2012 for the men’s lineup. How does it smell? What are the notes involved? Please continue below for my full take after wearing Tom Ford Noir for Men.

What does Noir Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: iris, patchouli, amber, pink pepper, nutmeg, black pepper, civet, vanilla, vetiver, bergamot, rose, violet, and more

Click here to try: Tom Ford Noir for Men Eau de Parfum Spray 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Tom Ford Noir is known to be a scent that can be hit or miss for a lot of people. I think a lot of that has to do with the opening of this fragrance and how polarizing it can be. It opens with a lot of patchouli and a good deal of pepper.

As such, that can turn off a lot of people, and honestly it’s my least favorite part of this one. It’s pretty strong and has a certain dirty quality to the aroma, plus, an animalistic aspect provided by the civet.

So, with patchouli, pepper, and civet being prominent in the opening; it is no wonder why this can scare a lot of folks off from wanting to wear it. Beyond those notes however, Noir also gets quite floral, the more it wears on the skin.

The most noticeable is definitely the violet at first, although, there is also rose and iris lurking around as well (iris later takes over). Noir becomes quite powdery and has a tinge of sweetness from bergamot and vanilla.

With a name like Noir, is this a ‘dark’ sort of fragrance? Yes, for something this floral, it does have plenty of warmth, spice, and a resinous ‘thickness’ throughout its life cycle.

So, while it is floral, it still has an earthiness that many of the modern clean colognes just don’t. Noir is pretty old school in that way.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Noir really bombs out a room at first. One or two sprays is huge and the sillage can make it across the room without issue. Now, it does calm down, and turn into something that is on the upper end of the moderate spectrum.

It just hits really hard at first. It’s not one that I’d go crazy with the sprays. The longevity is also very good and seems to be able to hit double digit hours fairly easily.

When testing it, Noir seemed to hang around for 11-12 hours. Though, I tend to lose track of fragrances, once they get past that point. So, it could’ve kept going.

Seasonally, this is for the autumn and winter months. I wouldn’t want to wear this in heat, so, if you’re in a warm and humid climate it might not be the best bet. Even if it is pretty popular, Noir always strikes me as something that is more niche.

It’s not going to be a crowd pleaser. It is best served to be worn in a more formal setting or at least in finer clothing.

Is it sexy? It could be considered that, but not really overall. It is mature, powdery, resinous, with spices. So, even if it does have good performance, I wouldn’t be using it as a nightclub scent. Also, probably not the best for younger guys.

Overall Impressions of Noir by Tom Ford

Overall, do I like Noir? Personally, it’s not my favorite, but I appreciate it. This is one that just doesn’t fit my style but I can understand why some people love it so much. Then again, I also understand the hate some people have for it.

Not a universally beloved cologne by any stretch. However, it is an interesting throwback fragrance, that hits the beats that it is aiming for perfectly. Strong, long lasting, and develops a barbershop clean with its own twist. Best to give it a whirl, before buying a full bottle.

These aren’t really all the same fragrances or even quite similar variations. But: Noir de Noir, Noir Extreme, and Noir Extreme Parfum are better than this one.

Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger

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Tommy Hilfiger was a major force in 1990s fashion and his line of fragrances for men and women have enjoyed great popularity even since that time. Hilfiger is a lifestyle brand which tries to celebrate the American spirit and caters to the tastes of classic Americana.

Tommy Hilfiger cologne is a perfect example of this brand association with the United States and as we will see in the notes of this fragrance one that brings together familiar elements to produce a nice casual scent.

What does Tommy Cologne Smell Like?

tommy

Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger notes: citrus, cranberry, mint, lavender, cactus, amber and cinnamon apple pie

Click here to try: Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger for Men – 3.4 oz EDC Spray

My Full Wear Review

I first got a bottle of Tommy Hilfiger cologne as a Christmas gift from a relative, many years back. From there it found its way into my rotation as a daytime fragrance for going to school and work.

I think that is probably the best use for this fragrance, not necessarily one designed for the nightlife but is a good choice for days during the spring and summer.

Tommy opens up with an intense blast of the fruit notes: grapefruit, apple, and cranberry with a healthy dose of mint popping through. At first, it is really fresh and crisp, but later it will turn more into an apple pie accord with warm cinnamon and amber.

It is a really interesting blend of tart cranberry, cool mint, and that crisp watery apple note. Tommy is an upbeat and very positive feeling fragrance, everything about it brings back memories of the late 1990s, when this scent was everywhere.

Being that it is comprised of fruity notes, Tommy does have a really sweet smell to it, one that is more citrusy than candy sweet. Before it gets more to the apple pie stage, Tommy is really green and smooth with lavender and what I assume to be the cactus note.

I think that this fragrance has always had balance with the bright citrus to not going too far in the warmth of the pie accord, because it is a completely chilled scent at times, too.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection always started out pretty heavy, but it just feels like a solid moderate wear, after an hour or so. People will be able to smell it, but I never choked out a room even with the vintage bottles.

Tommy Hilfiger cologne lasted a full work day in my experience and never overpowers the people around you. It is a rather ambient fragrance that is youthful and warming in its presentation. Hours 6-8 aren’t very strong, but it does stick around.

The price has come down a lot, but at one time this was a sought after designer scent, and it actually does give good performance.

Tommy was always a pretty versatile fragrance. Mostly for guys in their teens or twenties, but could be worn to work or school or casually or even on a date. Not a nightlife scent, but wearable during the daytime, seemingly year round.

Overall Impressions of Tommy

Is Tommy by Tommy Hilfiger worth a buy? I’d say, yes. If you aren’t looking to spend a lot of money on a fragrance and are looking for a casual or everyday wearer than I would recommend giving Tommy Hilfiger a shot.

It’s not much of a mature fragrance, but it isn’t completely childish, by any means. This stuff has been a best seller for over 20 years, at this point, and there is good reason for that.

I don’t know how often I’d wear this nowadays, but I do get that feeling of nostalgia smelling it, and I used to wear this very often in my late teens.

If you’re older or want a more mature cologne, go elsewhere. But, if this sounds like it fits your current age range or style, it is worthwhile. Good smell, nice performance, and well-liked.

Versace Eau Fraiche vs. Pour Homme

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Versace has a whole host of popular fragrances for men to choose from. They definitely have a distinct and usually quite a bold style. Two of the more popular options for the summer months are Versace Pour Homme and Eau Fraiche. In this post, I am going to give my run down of the differences and how they compare head to head, before declaring a winner. 

Tale of the Tape: Versace Pour Homme vs. Eau Fraiche

Versace Man Eau Fraiche 

Notes include: Lemon, Rosewood, Carambola, Cedar leaves, Tarragon, Sage, Musk, Amber, Sycamore

My original review

Click here to try: Versace Man Eau Fraiche By Gianni Versace For Men Edt Spray 3.4 Oz

Versace Pour Homme

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Notes include: bergamot, bitter orange leaves, geranium, sage, oud wood, mineral amber, tonka bean, musk, neroli

Click here to try: Versace Pour Homme Eau De Toilette Natural Spray 3.4 fl. oz.

Read my Review: Versace Pour Homme

Opening

Eau Fraiche is a total summer fragrance with a cool disposition. It opens up with a frozen citrus accord, led by lemon, and flanked by a wonderful starfruit note. The underlying rosemary gives it some dynamism with its herbal spice and then a super fresh cedar base.

Pour Homme also kicks things off with citrus. Instead of being chilled, it is bright and very clean, with grapefruit, neroli, and bitter orange leaf. I don’t think that this scent really ramps up until its later dry down period.

Between these two, I think that I prefer the opening of Eau Fraiche due to the starfruit note. They are both good and it’s not a clear cut winner, just a preference.

Edge: Eau Fraiche

Sillage

Upon initial spraying, they both have about the same strength and ability to project themselves. They are well above average, but neither is overwhelming. I think that the both ultimately get to the moderate stage, but Eau Fraiche settles quicker on my skin. 

Though, it’s not enough to give Pour Homme the definite win. It’s a tie here.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Neither of these fragrances are great with how long they last. They are both decent. Is there a clear winner? To me, Eau Fraiche can get me an extra hour versus Pour Homme.

Eau Fraiche lasts 6-7 hours and Pour Homme will get 5-6. Not a huge edge, but Eau Fraiche takes it.

 

 

Edge: Eau Fraiche

Versatility

I don’t see much distinction here. Each sort of is a summertime fragrance that can venture into the rest of the year. Though, that’s better served for people who live in a climate that is hotter and more humid year round.

Casual to office to semi-formal for both of these.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

This is a tough one to call. Both are from the same brand, have a similar style, and performance. I like the dry down of Versace Pour Homme, when the tonka bean note comes out. It feels much smoother and less of a sharp citrus aroma. 

The downside? It has a musky/soapy quality. I can get a better smell from Chanel’s Allure Homme Sport. Plus, it doesn’t have great performance.

Really, I find Eau Fraiche to be a better wear all around. I’m never in the mood to wear either all of the time, but having had both, I can definitely say that I’ve reached for Eau Fraiche during the summer more often.

I like both, but Eau Fraiche is my pick.

Winner: Eau Fraiche

Euphoria Men by Calvin Klein

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For the third installment of my review of the Calvin Klein line of fragrances for men, I thought that I would tackle Euphoria. It is a more recent creation than most of the designer’s big hits from the 1980s and 1990s, being first launched in 2006.

With a name like Euphoria, you would expect it to deliver an almost unforgettable experience of the senses and really draw people in…does it? Let us take a closer look at this CK cologne.

Update: I am revamping this review, after trying this cologne again. The Best CK Fragrances

What does Euphoria Men Smell Like?

euphoria men

Notes include: chilled sudachi, raindrop accord, solid amber, cedar leaf, black basil, patchouli, creamy suede, ginger pepper cocktail, Brazilian redwood

Click here to try: CK Euphoria Men Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 fl oz / 100 ml

My Full Wear Review

I’m coming back to review this one again, after several years. I wasn’t crazy about this fragrance back then, I didn’t hate it, and was more or less indifferent toward Euphoria. I almost completely forgot about it. However, I’ve had a chance to retry it recently, and wanted to give this cologne a fair shake.

Euphoria Men opens up with it’s spiciness front and center. Ginger is the main attraction, which has really become a note, that I love wearing as of late (particularly in Burberry Brit).

It is joined by its ‘pepper cocktail’ note, which gives a spicy punch to what otherwise would be more of a lighter freshness.

The amber note adds a warm somewhat sweet aroma, that is joined by basil, a bit of smooth suede, and a solid woody base. Euphoria shifts toward being a ginger/herbal spice, with the amber, and wood (lots of fresh cedar).

I like it, the blend of ginger/pepper/basil with amber is really enjoyable. How this cologne smells, has definitely grown in esteem with me, since I’ve last encountered it. What I get most of the wear is the woods: cedar and redwood. Along with, a hefty dose of amber.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

The sillage on Euphoria is pretty moderate, at first, then quite soft. This was always one of my problems with this fragrance, the performance being sub par. It’s not completely weak, in terms of how it projects, but it isn’t a standout either.

The longevity is also, pretty mediocre. It’ll go for 3-4 hours, on my skin, and pretty much be completely evaporated by the time hour four starts up. Still disappointing.

I’ve even used the spray deodorant and it lasts about the same as the actual cologne.

Seasonally, Euphoria Men doesn’t really strike me as appealing to only one season. I think that it’s best in moderate climates. I don’t like it, in the heat of summer.

The rest of the year, seems about right. It is clean and fresh enough, to be versatile, as to what occasions you could wear it. It’s inoffensive, so work or school, is just fine. Though, I’d say that this one, seems like a better fit for guys in their 20s. Not really a nightlife cologne.

Overall Impressions of Euphoria Men

Do I like Euphoria overall? I like the smell. It’s much better than I remember, a nice spiciness, with herbal qualities, and wood. Simple and straightforward, but very pleasant. The aroma itself, isn’t the issue, it’s the performance.

It’s a simple sort of fragrance, but is pretty unique in how it smells. The performance is just lackluster and how good it smells can’t really save it entirely.

To this day, it doesn’t seem to work on my skin, but I’ve read other complaining about it as well. Is it the absolute worst? No, I mean, I could probably find a use for this stuff (if I didn’t have an endless line of options).

The smell is really nice, though, not amazing. If you can get a bottle for cheap, Euphoria Man, wouldn’t be a bad option. It’d be a limited option, but a nice wear, while it lasted.

Tabarome by Creed

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During a recent trip to Las Vegas, I got to visit (a few times) the Creed boutique store. There are only two of these boutiques from Creed in North America (other one is in NYC). As such, I got to experience and revisit some of this brand’s scents for men and one of those happened to be Tabarome.

It had been such a long time since I had smelled this fragrance and thought that I would now post a review of it since it was fresh in my mind.

Now, this is going to be my experience with wearing it on one particular day and not over several days like in my other reviews, so, the performance aspect of this review will be much more limited. However, I’d still like to share my thoughts on Tabarome and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Tabarome by Creed Smell Like?

Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace where the Creed boutique is located
Forum Shops at Caesar’s Palace where the Creed boutique is located.

Notes include: ginger, vetiver, musk, tobacco, jasmine, bergamot, tangerine, sandalwood, ambergris, leather

Click here to try: Tabarome By Creed For Men. Eau De Parfum Spray 4.0 Oz

My Full Wear Review

It was cool to have a Creed shop so close by while staying at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and quite impressive to see their entire line being offered in one place. Tabarome opens with a very fresh and moderately spicy blast of the ginger note.

To me, the opening is when the ginger really dominates and while it is the most prominent note in Tabarome, it seems to settle down quite a bit after a bit of wear.

I think that the ginger could turn some people off of this scent but that’s a mistake in my opinion, as I feel that it can be a very good note when used properly (it just isn’t utilized often enough) and that Tabarome takes a little while to truly reveal itself.

Outside of that ginger, you do get a beautiful citrus blend, at the top. Paired with ginger, the opening act reminds me somewhat of, Dior Sport 2012. Not the same, mind you, but that sort of combination is quite reminiscent.

By the name, one would probably expect a tobacco dominated cologne. There is a tobacco element within Tabarome but it isn’t the usual smokey, already cured tobacco. It is more of the ‘green’ smell of a growing tobacco plant (if you’ve ever experienced that scent).

The bergamot gives it a slightly citrus aroma much like the same note in Aventus, although, in Tabarome the citrus is a background player and not the main event.

Tabarome is a beautiful blend of sweet and spiciness and never seems to allow any one ingredient take over entirely. The musk and the standard Creed ambergris give this cologne a definite warmth and the leather brings on a masculine smoothness. The dry down is full of wood, leather, tobacco, ginger, and some of the remaining citrus notes.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

It was probably 85 degrees on the day I wore Tabarome in Las Vegas. It held up pretty nicely in that weather, but I think it would be bettered severed. in the spring or a cooler fall day.

I did get a solid 5-6 hours out of this scent, again though, it wasn’t a usual day and I was running around town doing a lot of stuff outside…so maybe it isn’t a fair reflection on its usual performance.

Actually, it’s  pretty good about what climate it will work in, and outside of the insanely hot and humid days it wouldn’t be too out of place.

Update: Yeah, in a cooler climate it’s around 7-8 hours of wear.

Tabarome is a classic masculine type of scent, it isn’t heavy handed, and feels much more reserved than some of the other Creed scents. It isn’t weak in my opinion, pretty moderate across the board in how it projects.

This is an everyday wear, it could work on a date but I wouldn’t call it a ‘sexy’ fragrance. Tabarome is another from their collection, which would suit an older or professional man, the best. It’s not an ‘old mannish’ smell, meaning stuffy, just subtle and refined.

Overall Impressions of Tabarome

Overall, is Tabarome worth a buy? I think that it is one of Creed’s best scents, definitely underrated and overshadowed by some of its peers. Not every guy will enjoy it and it for sure has a much more limited appeal in who would wear it.

If you like slightly sweet and spicy fragrances, that are warm and have a citrus/woodsy element to them, then Tabarome might be worth a look. It is quite a fresh and classic type of scent which calls back to yesteryear and is well suited for the mature man.

Tabarome is well put together, smooth, but not super complex. That’s a good thing, in my mind. I think the performance, is a bit better than I experienced, under normal circumstances. However, I don’t think it’ll be an extremely high end performer, just solid.