Fragrances

Gentleman Society Extreme by Givenchy

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Gentleman Society Extreme is the follow up to the fairly popular, Gentleman Society. Extreme was released in 2024.

This flanker has gotten some attention already for being a worthy second act in the line. But, does it actually live up to the hype? How long does it last? Is Society Extreme even worth a try?

Gentleman Society Extreme Overview

Notes include: sage, peppermint, nutmeg, iced coffee, narcissus, iris, vetiver, cedar, sandalwood, vanilla

Click here to try: Gentleman Society Extreme

My Full Review

I grew to like the original Gentleman Society a bit more after I initially tried it. However, it never became something that I ever got too excited about wearing. So, I really wasn’t expecting much coming into testing Extreme.

I must say, this version is simply better to my nose. Yes, they are quite similar but the differences are enough to really make a difference, for me at least.

The opening here really sets the tone. It’s like an iced coffee drink smell with nutmeg and peppermint. A mix of freshness and later warmth. Not to mention the clary sage from the original is still around. Though, in a reduced role.

The addition of the coffee note is fantastic. I’ve seen a few reviews saying that they don’t get much coffee, but it really sticks out on me, thankfully. That’s one of the notes that appealed to me before trying this version.

The iris here is a richer orris root. It’s certainly a powdery fragrance, but that’s not the sole focus at all. The iris isn’t to the degree of something like L’Homme L’eau by Prada.

Coffee, fresh spiciness, powder, and the emergent vanilla note are what I get in the first phase of the wear.

Later, we will start to move into it’s woodier aspects. But first, the iris and narcissus shine alongside the coffee note.

To me, this has less of the narcissus than the original, at least to my memory. The original had the cardamom and narcissus pairing with the vanilla, whereas this goes coffee, iris, vanilla, and mint.

Either way more weighting on my skin toward the orris root. There is a slightly green or earthy quality here. Faint at times, but between the floral notes, swath of vetiver, cedar, and sandalwood this one starts to get woodier as we dry down.

The tail end is going to be the iris, vanilla, coffee, vetiver, and cedar. It depends on the time, as to which note is leading the way at which point, but they all seem to get some shine. Actually, this is when Extreme seems to smell the most similar to the original Society.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The original Society was a pretty strong fragrance at its start and was above average for the duration.

Extreme, is even more powerful with its projection early on, and does a better job at maintaining throughout.

Now, it’s not an absolute monster. However, it’s got plenty of reach, particularly during the first few hours.

It’s not super heavy either. Substantial for sure, but this perfume doesn’t bog down or ever feel cloying on me. The sage, cedar, etc. do a nice job at giving this enough aromatic freshness to keep it pleasant.

On my skin, I get 10-11 hours of wear with this one. Not a complete projection bomb, but one that will stick around and be noticeable for a long time. A good value, especially if you can get a bottle on sale.

Seasonally, I’d stick to autumn through early springtime with this Givenchy. I wore this on a warmer day before and it wasn’t too great in that environment. Though, in the colder weather it hangs beautifully in some crisp air.

The additional notes give this one a greater balance and a more refined style than the original. It’s more acceptable for all age ranges, to where Society felt geared more toward men in their 20s.

Nonetheless, this retains the ability to work during days or nights. It’s a great fragrance to wear out in a variety of scenarios from a party to a date and in between. Yet, it’s not so loud or anything that it can’t fit in at the office as well.

Overall Impressions of Society Extreme

Overall, do I like Society Extreme? Yes, it’s one of my favorite designer releases of 2024. Not that it was too difficult of a field in a slow year, but it actually is a very nice perfume that I enjoy wearing.

The coffee note and peppermint combination really makes this one for me. That opening is distinct from the original and the overall composition has a better balance with everything.

Less of the sage sticking out and the freshness is incorporate well with the sweeter notes. Plus, the Givenchy iris is still great.

Society Extreme does live up to the name, giving you very good performance for a designer wear, while also checking the box of being a daily wear scent.

After trying the sample, I bought a full bottle on Black Friday for $100. I’d say it’s worth retail price, if you can’t find a discount, but I’m sure it’ll available for around what I paid for it again sometime soon.

This is well worth a try and I think that it will continue to grow in popularity. It’s an easy going floral cologne that isn’t going to alienate the average guy by straying too far into the ‘flowery’ territory.

10 Best Smelling Hermes Colognes for Men

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Hermes is a luxury brand that is steeped in fashion history. While it does have fragrances for men, that doesn’t seem to be the company’s main concern, but when they do put out a scent…they generally do it extremely well.

Many of the scents that are released, tend to be unisex, and can even be focused more on one note versus a mass market fragrance. I have chosen what I feel are the ten best perfumes from Hermès for men, currently. 

Favorite Hermès Perfumes for Him

Great Citrus and Vetiver

Terre d’Hermes Eau Intense Vetiver– To me, this is so much better than the original. I disliked the bitter orange opening in that one, for a long time. Now, it doesn’t bother me as much, this just surpasses it.

Meanwhile, Eau Intense kicks off with a lighter and brighter mix of lemon and grapefruit. 

Obviously, it is similar to Terre d’Hermes, just with a different and fresher blend overall. Yes, it is an Intense version, but it actually isn’t loud or even as heavy as the original. Maybe the intensity is referring to the vetiver note alone, which is indeed stronger and more prevalent. 

The vetiver comes on strong, after the opening and is joined by a moderate Sichuan pepper note. Mature and refined scent, probably better for 30+ years old, in most cases. Eau Intense Vetiver Review

Citron Cool

Terre d’Hermes Eau Givree– Another of the series that I really like. Eau Givree brings in a realistic zesty somewhat bitter citron note with juniper and a woody base. There might still be some of the original orange in there as well. 

This one is super fresh and clean. Not super powerful, but a versatile fragrance that can be a joy to wear. I really liked trying this one out, after being less than wowed with some other flankers of Terre d’Hermes.

There is a mineral note here, but the one time that I tried Eau Givree out, it didn’t seem to strong. Weaker than the one that was in AdG Profumo. I don’t know, maybe I need more time with it to notice.

The whole thing comes across as being quite cold, somewhat spiced, with a touch of bitter. I get lots of juniper coming through after the initial wave of citron.

Most Popular Hermès

Hermès Men’s Terre d’Hermès Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3 fl. oz.– So, I’m putting this on the list based solely on the number of people who swear by this fragrance.

I am personally, in the minority opinion with Terre d’Hermes, as I don’t particularly care for it. Though, I’m more neutral on it nowadays.

Citrus, woody, and earthy. I like the concept, I just don’t like that orange note, especially with the underlying dirtiness of the patchouli and woodsy ingredients. 

I do like the vetiver here, which is why Eau Intense Vetiver really struck a chord with me.

Again, though, a lot of folks think this is one of the best scents of the last 25 years…I’m just not one of them. Read my full review.

Top Newer Release

H24 by Hermes– H24 seems to get mixed reviews, but in sales terms it’s actually become quite popular since its release in 2021. Personally, I liked wearing it and thought that it brought something different to the table, when compared to the usual lineup of men’s colognes.

H24 opens up with a lot of sage. The overall composition of this cologne is simple, but it still manages to be fresh and intriguing. 

The sage is joined by a metallic note, which provides some of that uniqueness. It’s less of the usual mineral oil-like smell and actually a genuine metallic aroma. It’s warm, with some sweetish narcissus flower, and a rosewood base rounding things out.

They have released an EDP version of this. Update: Also, Herbes Vives, which isn’t better either. Slightly different weightings of the notes, but they added moss as an ingredient. Between the two, I still prefer the original EDT.

Performance is nice. H24 is versatile and pretty easy to like. I’m not sure why some people didn’t seem to like this. It’s not the most amazing, but it’s all around worthwhile. H24 Review

Fresh and Soapy

Le Jardin de Monsieur Li– Not the best performer, but still decent. However, Le Jardin de Monsieur Li is a fantastic smelling fragrance for men or women. 

This series of fragrances is mostly unisex, but many of them are basically women’s perfumes. This is a true unisex scent.

This Hermes perfume kicks off with a bright citrusy kumquat blend, that is refreshing and watery. The mint note comes in lightly to give it that bit of crispness, with underlying grassy notes, that does bring about memories of being in a small garden next to a pond.

The jasmine becomes the main note, during the dry down. It gives this one a soapy quality, as it blends with the other ingredients.

However, it maintains enough of a grassy, watery, and herbal edge to prevent it from being a ‘girly’ sort of fragrance. My Full Review

Warm, Sweet/Spicy, Boozy

Ambre Narguile– Another unisex option, but one that flies under the radar, and is actually quite phenomenal. This one is dark, sweet, spicy, and boozy. Really quite perfect for the colder days of the year.

Amber and honey are two of the main notes, clearly, giving Ambre Narguile the thick warmth and richness. Then, it brings in dry fruits, tobacco, rum, spices, and a bit of smokiness.

Very close to Oajan by Parfums de Marly. Though, this is a sweeter scent than that one, but still has its spicy kicks.

This is a release from the Hermessence collection and has great performance and is an exquisite gourmand for anyone to enjoy.

Note: The Dua Brand has their own take on this perfume formula and several ‘remixes’ to that, for a very affordable price.

Green, Fresh, Summer Scent

Un Jardin en Mediterranee– The other best entry from the Un Jardin lineup. This one is herbal, fresh, green, with a nice zesty top. 

Mediterranee kicks off with the usual citrus top notes, with some blend of floral ingredients. Then, the real magic begins with the introduction of fig, juniper, and cypress.

The juniper gives it that gin drink-like fizziness, with a wonderful fig coming through, and the green woodiness of the cypress tree. 

This one is actually unisex and can be worn by most men. Sur le Nil, is another potential option, but has more of a feminine aroma.

The longevity is ok, but the smell is fantastic. I really do like the addition of a fig note, in this composition, it takes over during the middle and dry down and sits perfectly. 

Classic Masculine Scent

Equipage By Hermes For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz.– A throwback scent from the 1970s. Equipage is a very interesting and charming fragrance that isn’t really like anything else released nowadays.

It is masculine, but not overpowering, and features smooth woody notes such as: rosewood, oak moss, and pine needles.

Has that great woody, smoky, and autumn outdoorsy scent. Equipage is refined and well put together, with a nice spice from nutmeg, and a pretty distinct carnation note up top.

Woody, Herbal, Outdoorsy

Hermes Rocabar Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce– Rocabar has a benzoin note that I really enjoy and reminds me of Body Kouros by YSL, though, the Hermes fragrance takes it in a entirely different direction.  

Rocabar is a very fresh blend of mostly wood and spices but it does have floral and sweet elements provide by vanilla and carnation.

Not as heavily masculine as Equipage or as resinous as Bel Ami. This is a good middle ground, though, still very outdoorsy.

Pine and cypress are very noticeable in the base of the scent, but the entire thing remains clean and classy.

Leathery, Spiced Woods 

Bel Ami FOR MEN by Hermes – 3.4 oz EDT Spray– Masculine and a definite 80s scent. If you love leather and woody fragrances, Bel Ami is probably among the best to ever do it.  Incredibly smooth and sexy and grabs attention in a good way.

It opens up with citrus and spices. The leather comes through, but it really only adds a sense of richness, at this point. Later, it will come out more and bring the entire fragrance together, as a whole. 

The citrus notes fade after the initial blast and their role seems overtaken by floral ingredients. Those add just a light touch to the resinous woods and herbal spices sitting underneath the leather.

Good power and a pretty unique sort of smell, nowadays. I cannot comment on how the original bottles smelled from a long time ago, but the newer bottles are very good.

8 Best Smelling Parfums de Marly Fragrances

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All right, I have spent over a month with my batch of Parfums de Marly samples, and now feel confident to put together a list of the ‘best’ fragrances of the lineup. I haven’t gotten around to doing all of the individual cologne reviews, but I will update the site with those, in the near future. Here is my running list of fragrance reviews.

For this post, I selected what I feel are the eight best smelling colognes from Parfums de Marly. I think that each of them brings something unique to the table and at least one will fit with somebody’s own personal style.

Favorite Parfums de Marly Fragrances for Men

Top Overall PdM Fragrance

Parfums de Marly Herod Men’s Edp Spray, 4.2 Ounce– A warm, mature, and sexy cologne. Herod struck me as a fragrance with elements of some of my other favorite scents on the market.

It’s sweet with a vanilla note and then has a dark and spicy element with the cinnamon/pepper combo. Long lasting fragrance, who’s pepper spice is blunted by an incense smokiness lingering just underneath.

Even with the spicy, it is an inherently smooth scent. Tobacco, vanilla, and labdanum keep Herod chill and with a rich aroma. I like it as an autumn and winter wear, but it does last all day long, with a moderate sillage that doesn’t overwhelm. Read my full Herod Review

Best Sweet Marly Fragrance

Parfums de Marly Parfums de Marly Layton by parfums de marly for men – 4.2 Ounce edp spray, 4.2 Ounce– I really enjoy the crisp apple note that is found in Layton. It is much more of a realistic apple scent than many other sour apple candy notes, that are found in other colognes.

It smells utterly delicious and the opening act is a joy to smell, on the skin. Some might not like that level of sweetness, but I think that it really works well, here. I wore this one yesterday and it just kept going and going, on the skin.

This scent also contains vanilla, sandalwood, and a hint of spice to create some dynamism within the aroma. Very versatile fragrance that can be worn pretty much year round and in a variety of situations or occasions. My Layton Review

Note: The Dua Brand has their ‘inspired by’ take on this scent, heavily discounted currently (as of this update May 2025). Not sure for how long.

One for the Summer

Sedley– This is the newest edition to the list and what I think it probably the top release from the brand over the past few years.

Sedley is a lighter fragrance than the others on the list and goes in a different direction. Two of its notes are water and a solar accord, just to give you some idea.

But, that’s also joined by a crisp citrus, mint, calming lavender, and sandalwood. It has a fresh citrus effervescence about it, the mint note isn’t heavy but it adds that extra zing.

Add to that, geranium and cedar in the base and you get a super clean/fresh wear for the spring and summer.

Now, the performance on this one, isn’t as good as the others. Again, lighter fragrance. You can still get it to stretch out to 6-7 hours on the skin, however.

It’s got great moments of spice, then its woody phase, and a citrus/musk finish.

A Better Blend

Pegasus Exclusif- Exclusif is a better version of the original Pegasus release from PdM. I wasn’t too into that one, despite its popularity. However, I think Pegasus Exclusif is an improvement versus that formulation.

For me, it’s less of a complete almond and vanilla fragrance in the opening. Yes, they are still quite present but there is also a mix of other notes. Light citrus, heliotrope, and pink pepper spice.

This feels like a soft scent, still hangs around and project well enough, it’s just not a perfume that is going to bog you down.

Cardamom, lavender, and geranium keep the middle and back half of this one dynamic, before we get an amber and woods finish.

Still not my personal favorite, but I did like this one more, and it’s worthy of a spot on the list. Exclusif review

Warm and Dark

Carlisle by Parfums de Marly- This one is somewhat similar to Oajan, listed below, but I think that Carlisle has the edge in terms of its smell.

It opens up with both green apple and vanilla, but also, saffron and sandalwood. This gives it a warm and sweet profile, with a dark appeal, quite a baked goods-like scent. The saffron creates a leathery sort of smoothness in Carlisle.

In the end, it is a balanced mix of sweet and fresh spices. Less of the apple. More of the vanilla, tonka bean, nutmeg, and patchouli. The performance with Carlisle is outstanding. Not only do I get strong sillage, but it also lasted 12 to 13 hours during testing.

This Parfums de Marly fragrance has a great smell and isn’t too heavy that it can’t venture into the springtime. Even if, it is best in the colder part of the year. Carlisle Full Review

Bold and Rich Fragrance

Parfums de Marly Oajan Edp Spray, 4.2 Ounce– Oajan is a very rich and dark kind of scent. Immediately, one’s nose is hit by a combination of tonka bean, cinnamon, and benzoin.

It’s smooth and sweet with a bit of spice and a profile that reminds me a bit of 1 Million Prive. Obviously, the myrrh in the Paco Rabanne really separates these two, in the middle act.

The benzoin, is a really great note in here. It doesn’t get used often in fragrances, but it does get used right by some of the better designer companies.

It starts off heavy, but calms down, and lasts all day. Oajan is a great cold weather fragrance. I really enjoy the cream vanilla, tonka bean, and spice added by the cinnamon. Along with, a sweet and thick honey note. It’s a great blend of notes.  Read my Full Review

Unique and Underrated

Parfums de Marly Godolphin Men’s Edp Spray, 4.2 Ounce– Godolphin is an intriguing fragrance. In fact, it is what I am wearing right now, as I type this post. It opens with a blend of herbal notes and a hint of fruit.

I mainly get a sense of saffron poking through. When combined, with the other ingredients, it lends a slight metallic aroma to the composition. In a lot of ways, this Godolphin reminds me of Ombre Leather by Tom Ford. The floral notes are different, but saffron and leather, are on par.

However, the main note that comes into play is a smooth and beautiful leather that mixes with a woody base. It’s invigorating to smell and has a layer of floral notes which allows the scent to have complexity and balance.

It has a rose note which is actually pretty sweet, within the setting of this scent. The sillage is a stronger moderate, but it will last for a long time. Godolpin Review

Dark Gourmand Pick

Parfums de Marly Habdan Men’s Edp Spray, 4.2 Ounce– Habdan features notes of apple and caramel, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that this is a feminine fragrance.

Those are also joined by notes of saffron, frankincense, and amber to create a lightly smoky oriental aroma. The sweetness is paired perfectly with the dark smoky elements, found in this cologne. Pretty unique.

It has similarities to Man in Black by Bvlgari. Less spicy, no booziness from a rum note. They are close, but Habdan takes it into a rather different direction.

It is a sweet and delicious gourmand cologne while also having elements of incense and resin. Warm, complex, and quite interesting. Probably not one with the most universal appeal. but for a certain segment of guys, this will be one that they absolutely adore. Habdan Full Review

kalan marly review

Acqua di Gio (Original) vs. Profondo

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Acqua di Gio keeps chugging along decade after decade as a best seller. It’s flanker fragrances have become very popular in their own right. One of the latest to reach this status is Acqua di Gio Profondo, which came out a few years back.

Both of these have solidified themselves as easy to wear and very enjoyable fragrances. But, how do the two Armani scents compare? Which of them smells better? Last longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Acqua di Gio vs AdG Profondo

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 

Acqua di Gio Profondo EDP

Notes include: mandarin, bergamot, lavender, marine notes, rosemary, cypress, lentisk, patchouli, musk

Click here to try: GIORGIO ARMANI Acqua Di Gio Profondo for Men Eau De Parfum Spray 4.2 Ounces, blue

Read my Review: AdG Profondo

Opening

Acqua di Gio opens with, a citrus blend of tangerine and bergamot. This is flanked by a wonderful sea breeze-like accord with soft jasmine only beginning to peak through.

With newer bottles, I detect more of the jasmine than I remember, but it actually works very well in the composition.

Profondo eau de parfum actually has a pretty similar start to its competitor. The bergamot is joined by mandarin, in lieu of the tangerine note.

They aren’t exactly the same, as Profondo has more of a watery marine note, less of a sea breeze feeling. Plus, a resinous lentisk note playing a bigger role.

It’s a refreshing dive into the ocean, rather than walking along the shore. It will get smoother and a bit creamier, as it wears on.

Which is better? I think the citrus notes in the original are a bit better up top. But, the overall experience with Profondo is more interesting and a tad more enjoyable.

Edge: Profondo

Projection

The sillage for Acqua di Gio is now a moderate experience, on the lower end of that range. It was never a beast, but it had a bit more power.

Still, I wasn’t completely disappointed with its power, and I always could detect it on my skin.

Profondo is an eau de parfum concentration. It’s also not a beast, but it’s got enough power for being a summer wear. It hangs around very nicely and is just better at projecting than the original.

Edge: Profondo

Longevity

The original Acqua di Gio has had better longevity in the past. It’s still decent, just a step or two behind what it used to be.

With the latest samples that I got from Armani in 2021, it could hit the 5-7 hour range. Closer to the lower end, but did hit 7 sometimes depending on what I was doing.

Profondo gives me a consistent 7-8 hours. In the past, the original might have gotten the edge. Now, it’s an easy win for Profondo.

Update: Testing Profondo again in 2024, it still hits the same mark that it did when it was released, for me at least.

Edge: Profondo

Versatility

Both scents are very versatile. Can span across age range, venture out into the nightlife, etc. However, I think the original still has the edge.

Profondo can be better on the hottest days of summer, but I think AdG fits better for the cooler parts of the year.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a ‘winter cologne’, but the floral heart doesn’t really feel out of place either. Less of that blue aquatic/marine feeling, that Profondo has.

Edge: Acqua di Gio

Overall Scent

It had been a few years since I’d given the old standard that is Acqua di Gio a try. I have to say, I really still do enjoy the cologne. Given that you can get bottles of it for fairly cheap, I do think that it’s a worthwhile scent.

The citrus and the floral heart, with the sea breeze aroma. Still a classic and very enjoyable to wear.

But, it’s just not as good as Profondo, as a whole. Acqua di Gio Profondo is my second favorite of the line currently available. I give the slight edge to Profumo, but it’s especially better than this current AdG incarnation.

It’s smooth with a blue-ish/green aroma. Woody highlights and a sweetness. Some don’t like the harshness of Profumo’s incense notes, Profondo gives you a middle ground between it and the original AdG.

Update: Profondo eau de parfum now has been followed up by Lights and Profondo Parfum. The original EDP is still the best of the Profondo series thus far and I’d still pick it out of these two.

Winner: Profondo

11 Best Smelling by Kilian Fragrances

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By Kilian is a niche fragrance designer, which has actually become very popular over the past decade. ‘Niche’ perfumes, are pretty much synonymous with the word expensive, and By Kilian is definitely that.

However, while there are a lot of these upscale designers, which produce pretty foul smelling scents, By Kilian actually does have some absolute gems under their belts.

In this post, I want to highlight 11 such perfumes, for both men and women; that could be considered the best from this brand. It’s by no means, exhaustive, but there should be something worthwhile for anyone looking to try out a By Kilian fragrance.

Favorite Perfumes by Kilian for Men and Women

Amazing Release

Angels’ Share by Kilian– This unisex perfume was released in 2020 and has become one of my favorite scents to wear, as of late.

Angels’ Share starts off sweet and boozy with cognac, tonka bean, and a solid oak base note. The cognac does come off similar to apple brandy, much like the fragrance with the same name further down this list.

It add a light cinnamon, praline, and vanilla to give it further sweetness and warmth. Then, the dry down is a delicious smelling woody fragrance with all of the boozy/sweet notes sitting just underneath.

Not too heavy of a fragrance, with a decent projection, and over 10 hours of wear. I’ve really loved wearing this stuff and will probably get a full bottle for my personal collection. Angels’ Share Review

angels review

Narcotics Floral Vanilla

Woman in Gold– To me, the Narcotics line from Kilian has the most winners, particularly for the ladies. Woman in Gold is one of the better options and gives you a great blend of floral notes, citrus, and vanilla.

Woman and Gold opens up with fresh and bright aldehydes paired with a lovely bergamot citrus and geranium. Under that, is the rose note and the tonka bean/vanilla combo that will be more prevalent in the dry down.

The rose is joined by a light freesia, both of which will become a generalized floral aroma, with patchouli and woody undertones. The vanilla will take over versus the tonka bean and that along with the woods and floral will be what’s left.

It’s a little sweet, the aldehydes are great up top with the citrus, and just enough vanilla to tie it all together. Woman in Gold Review

Sweet and Boozy Gourmand

Kilian Black Phantom- Memento Mori Perfume Refillable Spray 1.7 fl. oz– Black Phantom is a sweet gourmand, which really shines when its cold out. You get boozy slightly spiced rum, chocolate, caramel, and coffee. Yep, it’s going to be warm and delicious.

It’s like a nice coffee drink, with a bit of rum tossed in to liven the mood. The longevity is great and the sillage isn’t too heavy. Still, I’d keep this one out of the heat, and save it for cozier days. Black Phantom is a unisex, that leans masculine.

Warm Fruity Tobacco Smoke

Smoking Hot– This also starts off with apple and cinnamon notes, like Angels’ Share. The two, aren’t the same, however beyond that share similarity.

Here, you get a fruitier opening with a great apple note, some spiciness, and a smoky backing. The smoke isn’t overwhelming to me. Actually, the tobacco note itself is more prominent in the back half of the wear.

Opening act, plenty of smoke. Very sweet hookah with some spiciness/freshness, keeping it from being domineering.

Tobacco and vanilla are going to take up lots of the tail end, supported by the fruitier notes. However, you also get a bit of freshness from sage and moss notes.

Nice performance and something different that does perform as a unisex tobacco fragrance.

Floral with some Fruitiness

By Kilian – Good Girl Gone Bad Eau de Parfum – Travel Spray– The first entry for ladies, on the list, is an absolute floral affair. Osmanthus and rose, lead the pack, before it moves into become more of a bouquet with some nice amber touches.

The fruitiness here comes from the apricot note, with a very light apple. With the white floral notes, it does have a soapy/shampoo-like cleanliness to it.

The name on this one, totally doesn’t fit, but the scent itself is actually really nice. It’s much more of a ‘good girl’ and I’m not sure when that ‘bad’ side ever kicked in. So, if that’s what you’re expecting, it won’t be happening.

Tuberose and orange blossom have their moments, while the strongest of the floral notes towards the end will be the jasmine. The apricot note hangs around for the duration. You get a sweet, easy to wear floral, that’s actually appropriate for younger women also. Good Girl Gone Bad Review

kilian good girl review

The Better Straight to Heaven

Straight To Heaven Extreme by Kilian/1.6 oz.– Yes, the original is one of the most popular Kilian scents. However, let’s kick things up, with Straight to Heaven Extreme which is even better than its predecessor.

Like, Black Phantom above, Straight to Heaven Extreme utilizes rum. It’s a really powerful start.

However, this one doesn’t go into full sweetness mode, and is much boozier overall. There is still some sweetness, with dried fruits and some vanilla, but it has a much earthier base with a nice patchouli note.

It lives up to the extreme title, as the projection and longevity, are awesome. Update: This one is discontinued. The original is still around, but you’ll have to buy Extreme on the secondary market, if you want it.

Warm, Spicy, and Delicious

Intoxicated Refill by Kilian/1.7 oz.– Intoxicated is a simple, but wonderful blend, of mostly cardamom and coffee. Underneath that, is further spices, of cinnamon and nutmeg. This one is super fresh and warm with a spice that never gets out of hand.

It’s got a very attractive smell, with a moderate sillage, overall. There’s not much depth to this one, just a great aroma, for those who want a blend of sweet and spice.

They’ve had a few of these simpler scents that were kind of mid. This one, is a perfume that actually hits the mark.

Best Winter Fragrance

Kilian Back To Black Travel Set– This is probably the most popular of the Kilian fragrances, it also happens to be, one of the best. Honey and tobacco, are major players here, with a cherry note that is quite present at the top.

It’s unique, with a dark sweetness, about it. Back to Black is mostly a sweet fruity tobacco fragrance, with notes like saffron and almond, peaking through at times during the wear. Really great performance, not too loud, but an all day wear.

A Different Take on Boozy

Kilian Apple Brandy 17 ml / 0.57 fl– Apple Brandy is exactly as boozy as you’d expect it to be. Like a liquor soaked cask, with an apple aroma at the top, and vanilla sweetness in its heart. A sweet, warming cologne, for those colder days and nights of wintertime.

The opening is pretty juicy, then it’s a boozy sweetness, and finally it’s a liquored woody base. Very delicious, probably not one for everybody, but great nonetheless.

Update: This one also seems to be discontinued. They do have Apple Brandy on the Rocks, still. Not the same exactly, not as good in my mind, but might be something you’d like.

Sweet Floral Perfume

By Kilian – Love Travel Spray with Refills– Love is a perfume with a sugary sweet marshmallow, caramel and vanilla blend, sitting on top of floral notes such as iris, orange blossom, honeysuckle, and neroli.

The orange blossom/neroli pairing, really plays well off of the candy-like top notes. Early on, the orange blossom and marshmallow are the dominant notes, to my nose. The rose and iris her are light and give a slight powdery aroma to the warm gourmand sweetness.

As it dries down, jasmine starts to make itself known more, in the floral arrangement. Vanilla, marshmallow, and musk when the caramel fades and the floral notes are just a general impression instead of being distinct.

This is a very pretty perfume, that is good for daily wear, but can have a bold character when over-applied. Best worn in autumn through the early springtime, as it can be too thick for summer. Read my full Review

love don't be shy review

Fruity with Rose

By Kilian – Liaisons Dangereuses, Eau de Parfum Perfume 50 ml– Liaisons Dangereuses is much more of a women’s fragrance, but a man could definitely pull it off. You get a lot of peach and plum (not a lot), throughout, with a tart black currant in the opening.

Beyond that, a light rose, and a touch of spice. It’s a ‘jammy’ rose, so, the fruits create a jam like aroma around that nice rose.

It’s mostly about the fruit notes here, but the dry down does become much woodier/floral, than it had been. Quite clean and juicy, with a creamy peach note. Simply great. Not a heavy fragrance, lighter and fresher aroma versus something like Love don’t be shy. My Full Review