Fragrances

12 Best Smelling YSL Colognes for Men

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Yves Saint Laurent is a French fashion company which produces among other things, fantastic scents. YSL is honestly one of my favorite fragrance designers, as I know I’ll always get both unique and masculine scents to wear.

YSL has produced fantastic colognes since the 1970s and many of them are not even included on this list as they are either no longer produced or just really hard to find (scents such as: YSL Pour Homme, Live Jazz, M7, and Kouros Tattoo). All worthy of a spot, just too far in the past.

For this list, I have chosen what I consider to be the twelve best smelling Yves Saint Laurent colognes for men currently available (at least online). Each of them represents a different style and situation to which to wear them in.

Note: I have updated this page from the original, to expand further, and make necessary edits. Mainly, add new one’s to the list and move discontinued fragrances towards the bottom.  Also See: Best YSL Perfumes for Ladies

Favorite Men’s Fragrances from Saint Laurent

 

Classy Event

Tuxedo by YSL– I was late to the party with this one, but man, is this a great juice. Tuxedo is one of their more expensive offerings, but is an absolute gem.

It opens up with its spicy kick of cardamom and black pepper. It’s not super massive with that spice, as it is subdued by the sweeter notes and the fact that they are swimming in a sea of warm amber.

The other layer up top is greenish, a little earthy, watery, and smoky. Mostly, patchouli and violet leaf. After that, we will transition away from the spice to a sweeter floral with notes of vanilla and rose.

It all comes together with a great balance and stylish feeling that begs to be worn while dressed up. It may not be for everyone or one specifically for daily wear, but Tuxedo is one to try and one of YSL’s best. Tuxedo Review

Vestiaire Des Parfums Pick

6 Place Saint Sulpice by YSL– So, like the other major designers, YSL has its own higher end unisex blends available under the Vestiaire des Parfums banner. 6 Place Saint Sulpice is one such offering and it is really darn good.

This one is deep and rich, more niche than the best sellers on this list. Leather, saffron, lavender, labdanum, and tonka bean.

At times it’s creamy. Then, it’ll be smoky and very woody while sitting on top of the ever-present leather note. I’ve only come across this scent once, the leather almost felt more of a suede to me. But, I’d need to spend more time with Sulpice.

This isn’t going to one for most folks. It’s warm, spice, nutty, woody, smoky. and has a lot of depth. But, for the right person, this is gold.

Now, this is going to run you in the $250 per bottle range. Also, while there are still bottles available as of posting, I’m not sure how long that is going to be the case. I believe it is now discontinued.

Best New Cologne Release and Daily Wear Pick

Yves Saint Laurent Y Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce– The newest release from YSL, that makes the list of its best. Y EDP, was released after the very nice Y EDT, but surpassed it in every way. Not only that, it was one of the best releases of 2018, and a top offering from Yves Saint Laurent.

Y EDP opens up with a crisp freshness provided by a blend of: bergamot, apple, and ginger. It is blended perfectly and grabs one’s attention, from the start. After that, comes the warmth and creaminess of tonka bean and amberwood, which is further freshened by juniper.

This one has outstanding longevity of over 10 hours, on my skin, and a solid but not overly loud sillage. It is clean, with moments of sweetness, herbal aromas, and underlying woodiness. I had to update this list, to include Y EDP. It seems like it’s catching on now and getting its just due.

Y EDP is their best current release, in my opinion (vintage bottles of other entries notwithstanding). I also like Le Parfum and Elixir from this series, Y EDP Review

 

Flanker L’Homme

L’Homme EDP– There’s been a long list of flankers stemming from the original L’homme release by YSL. Some, were really good and sadly long gone. Others, not so much.

Eau de Parfum was released from the brand in 2022 and is one of the better colognes to be under the L’Homme banner.

Bergamot and bitter orange open things up. It’s sweet, juicy, feels ambery, and you get the oak and cognac combination also coming through. It’ll dry down into something that is more woody, earthy, with notes of geranium and lavender also making an appearance.

The performance is just okay. I wish it was beefed up more and I got more time with the opening act. Still, this is a release from the line worth trying. L’Homme EDP Review

Most Popular Cologne

Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’homme Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3-Ounce
A soft, casual, long-lasting, and fantastic smelling cologne from Yves Saint Laurent. This is another one that turns the heads of the ladies and it is masculine without being in your face about it. Cardamom provides a warm spice, which is then met with a calming lavender note.

The composition is also quite woody with a dry freshness from the combo of cedar and vetiver. This has been a best seller for a decade, at this point.

Simple, straight to the point. I will say, that recent bottles, have seemed weaker than in the past. Yet, La Nuit is still among YSL’s best men’s perfumes.

Update: I’ve got a full bottle of this and L’Homme from 2021 and the longevity has gotten really bad for both. Like, 2-3 hours. They can be had for a lower price usually, but just be prepared to reapply, if you decide to go this route. Still smells great, just weak.

Notes include: Vetiver, Cedar, Coumarin, Floral notes, Bergamot, Lavender, Cardamom. Review

 

 

Best La Nuit Flanker

La Nuit de L’Homme Bleu Électrique– This is a newer release for 2021, that I only tried once, but it’s a worthwhile addition to the list. I still do need to spend more time with Bleu and give it a full and proper review.

It is pretty close to the one above, but with a noticeably fresher opening act with the ginger note and a greater use of the lavender note versus the very cardamom focused original La Nuit.

The citrus up top also seemed stronger to me, but it’s been a while since I’ve had a bottle of the old stuff.

Performance was much better, but again I need to test it out more. One noticeable difference is the tonka bean in the base, similar to that found in Eau Electrique (listed below).

Top Herbal/Woods Fragrance Pick

Jazz By Yves Saint Laurent For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces
A harder to find classic from the late 1980s. Jazz is a spicy floral based cologne that has a knack for attracting women. Jazz is a throwback fragrance, to a time before you had a bunch of aquatics, and the same ambroxan-laden colognes that you have today.

Update: Not sure if this has been completely discontinued or if Jazz is still available in some markets.

It is green, herbal, spicy, fresh, and captivating. Masculine and mature, not overpowering, but subtle in its confidence. Jazz has a slightly soapy aroma, but with more woods and spice. There are still bottles floating around of Jazz.

Live Jazz was also another awesome scent, but I haven’t seen that one in quite a while, and they never re-released it. Notes include: sandalwood, rose, spices, and amber. Jazz EDT Full Review

jazz

Top Classic Masculine Laurent Scent

Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent for Men – 3.3 Ounce EDT Spray
Another very attractive scent from YSL. Like Jazz, it has a blend of floral notes and spicy one too but Kouros adds undertones of woods to give it that extra depth. This one is intense. This dates back to the early 1980s, and as such, has been reformulated and changed with time.

I can’t say what it originally was like, but from all accounts, it was an absolute bomb. I know it from mid-2000s onward. Kouros is not one for everybody, some will love it, while others will detest it. At times it is clean and bright, at others, dirty and rough.

Today, it really doesn’t strike me as being all that dirty. Early stages of spice, aldehydes giving it a fresh brightness, and an ever-present musk. Later, it’s sweeter, has leather, and a classic floral finish.

This is going to come across as completely different from other parfums pour homme, that are usually released nowadays. The 80s, was a time of lots of super bold and masculine scents. and Kouros was absolutely one of them. Kouros Full Review

kouros

Honorable Mentions

Best YSL Winter Perfume Pour Homme

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. It’s actually one of my favorites from YSL, but it’s not really produced anymore, so it’ll go in this section.

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

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Most Unique YSL

Opium By Yves Saint Laurent For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces– This gets moved to the honorable mentions now, since it’s been discontinued for a long time and those last bottles that YSL did produce, kind of lost a step with the quality/performance.

A rather warm and soft cologne that is great for fall and winter. Opium is an exotic and spicy scent with notes of vanilla which help to mellow it out. It opens up with that warm spice and a black currant note, that can be quite tart/sharp, however it is subdued in this one.

Balsam is highly present within the composition and creates a warm cloud, and to me, gives Opium its exotic and dream-like quality.

As the black currant settles, the spice from the anise and pepper take center stage, and boost the freshness of this cologne. Next, it turns sweeter, due to the familiar scent of vanilla which is sitting on top of a cedar base.

My bottle of Opium EDT, always gave me awesome performance, with a bold sillage and over 10 hours of wear. It is another cold weather fragrance and one that has always gone underappreciated.

Update: I still see bottles of this around. But, I bought a bottle of the EDT (and vintage EDP original), and the latest EDT they put out really doesn’t have the same vibe or performance.

Notes include: vanilla, ginger, pepper,  cedar,  balsam. I reviewed Opium here

opium

Most Underrated YSL Fragrance for Men

Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’Homme Eau Electrique Eau De Toilette Spray 100ml/3.3 Fl Oz– Eau Electrique was released a few years ago, to little fanfare, and is still quite underrated. I think that it is completely unfair, because this fragrance, is sneaky good. It is a flanker of La Nuit, but doesn’t really resemble its predecessor.

Electrique is creamy and smooth, with a powdery finish. Lots of tonka bean, geranium, crisp apple, vanilla and a fresh woody base featuring cedar. The performance is good, not overpowering, but quite a great wear in the autumn and winter months.

Not a ground breaking cologne, but this is really a pleasant fragrance to wear, and one which gets noticed. I’ve been hoping that this one would get cheap, so I could scoop up a really inexpensive bottle, but that hasn’t come to pass as of yet. Nevertheless, I think it’s a very worth perfume for men. Eau Electrique Review.

Myslf

 

Myslf Le Parfum by YSL–  I’m listing Le Parfum as the one that I personally prefer out of the two of these. However, it’s not a cologne for everyone, as it is much more floral-centric versus Myslf EDP.

That one is a blast of bergamot citrus, before the emergence of a lighter orange blossom note. Le Parfum is a heavier use of orange blossom, with a spicy kick, woods, patchouli, and vanilla coming through.

Le Parfum has the better performance and I think that it is better put together overall. But, EDP is a crowd pleaser and something that probably easier to wear and more approachable for most guys. Myslf EDP review

 

7 Best Smelling Frederic Malle Fragrances for Men

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Frederic Malle fragrances are both quite niche and also quite expensive. It is pretty cool how each one is designed by a particular perfumer, who gets credit on the bottle itself, in italic letters. Anyway, there are a lot of options from this line now, and many of them are unisex.

So, I wanted to create a list of the best options for men to consider, and it’s going to be composed of both unisex and some specifically male colognes.

Each of these, I think, brings something different to the table and was crafted by some fantastic perfumers. As such, there should be at least one option for everybody.

Favorite Frederic Malle Colognes for Him

Top Overall Malle Scent

Frederic Malle – Bruno Jovanovic – Monsieur for men 1.7 ounce 50ml NIB 2015 year– Not usually a huge fan of patchouli, but I’ll admit when it is done right, it can be an amazing note. That’s the case with Monsieur.

This fragrance done by Bruno Jovanovic utilizes patchouli in a way that is blended with cedar woods and rum. Monsieur has a smoky and warm quality, with enough spice, and a slight citrus undertone. It all feels dry, bold, and rather comforting.

Monsieur is a massive fragrance. The sillage does settle down, but it can be quite powerful upon opening. It also has a really dark quality to it, sort of like Man in Black by Bvlgari, but it goes in a different direction from that cologne.

The booze and the earthy combination is really great. What an interesting fragrance.

Green/Herbal Fragrance

Frederic Malle French Lover Eau de Parfum 3.4 Oz/100 ml New In Box.– Woodsy, earthy, with incense spices. French Lover is a rather unique experience, with familiar notes such as vetiver and cedar.

Plus, lesser known ingredients like the dominant angelica. This is a super green and earthy scent, quite mossy, with a dash of early morning dew. Mature and refined. As it dries down, French Lover shows more of its woodsy side, with some slight smokiness provided by incense.

It finishes off as a mossy green scent, with a dry freshness headed up by the cedar note. Rather unique scent, but, has a familiarity to it due to its note selection. Lots of depth and character.

Leathery Moon

The Moon by Frederic Malle– Really great perfume here and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed smelling this scent.

The Moon is a rose and oud tinged leather perfume designed by Julien Rasquinet. Usually, this mix of notes isn’t something that I personally enjoy very much. In this blend?

The oud isn’t overbearing or too ‘barnyard’ and the rose is used in a lighter way, especially the further you get.

As it dries down, you get a fuller experience with the leather note, which will be the main focus. Before that happens, you have a berry based fruity accord, the raspberry note being the most prominent.

It’s fruity, it’s floral, woody, and then dries down into that leather based aroma. This one is rich, deep, complex, and takes some fairly overused note combinations and The Moon makes it it’s own.

It’s a Jungle Out There

Synthetic Jungle- Synthetic Jungle is another one with a greenish aroma. However, in this case it is a much more floral focused scent than is French Lover.

Lily of the valley, jasmine, hyacinth, and ylang-ylang inhabit the heart of this Anne Flipo creation. A good kick of basil up top, but it doesn’t have that earthy feeling. This is a fresh and aromatic floral.

The galbanum seems heavier in the mix in the opening stages, supported by the basil. Then, it will move on to being more of the lily of the valley. Touches of jasmine and moments where the ylang-ylang really comes through.

An interesting one, nice depth and performance. Not my personal style, but this is a great unisex example of this kind of floral fragrance.

Best Seller by Malle

Musc Ravageur by Frederic Malle 100ml– Musc Ravageur is one built for the colder days of the year. It’s a warm embrace of sweet notes and musk. Vanilla and tonka bean are of course here, as well as the cinnamon note.

It’s fresh and somewhat gourmand, but with a musk note infused into all of it. Furthermore, there is a spicy element with the aforementioned cinnamon, amber, and cloves. Such an interesting fragrance and quite sensual.

There are so many fragrances with a lot of the same notes, but the musk, and the composition sets this apart.

Underrated Frederic Malle

NOIR EPICES by FREDERIC MALLE 3.4oz/100ml-A warm and spicy unisex fragrance with a juicy orange note giving Noir Epices a citrus edge. Then, there is rose and geranium.

Plus, a plethora of different spices from pepper to cinnamon to cloves and more, which creates a completely unique aroma. With all of those spicy ingredients, it can of course be loud, but for those who love that sort of thing this fragrance offers a fantastic experience.

The orange note opens and is blended with the spicier notes, mainly cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.

While it does pack a punch in the beginning, it actually isn’t a ‘heavy’ sort of scent. In fact, it can be worn in warmer weather and hold up just fine. The spice is clean and not an overwhelming cloud.

Unique Vetiver

Frederic Malle ‘Vetiver Extraordinaire 50ml/1.7 Fl Oz’– Dry, earthy, and very woody. Vetiver of course, leads the way, and is joined by cedar and sandalwood. Smooth outdoorsy smell, that manages to not feel too ‘dirty’, thanks to orange and bergamot notes.

The citrus isn’t too strong, but it’s there and noticeably flanking the vetiver, and competes with a layer of pepper. It makes the vetiver note stand out, as extra bright and uplifting. The opening act has a spicy edge to it, but that gets smoothed out over time.

It’s a vetiver scent, but not a ‘pure’ vetiver and Extraordinaire, gives you enough other notes to make it a unique option. Really nice performance and can be worn in a wide variety of situations.

11 Best Smelling Chocolate Scented Colognes for Men

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I’ve had this post in the queue for a few years, at this point, and never got around to finishing writing up my selections. So, I figured now was a good time to jump into the best smelling chocolate fragrances for men. I ended up picking eleven colognes or unisex perfumes, which feature either raw cacao or a more refined chocolate note as a main ingredient.

Note: I’ll come back and updated as needed. Some on the list might be older and now discontinued, but I’ve added newer releases that are still widely available and not insanely expensive.

What are the Best Chocolate Scented Fragrances for Men?

Unique Designer Cocoa

Jean Paul Gaultier Kokorico Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce– Cocoa mixed with an earthy and spicy patchouli note.

It calms down later, in the wear, but the opening can hit quite hard with an abundance of fig.

Some folks don’t care for fig at all. Personally, I love it, and think it fits in very well with the rest of the blend.

Kokorico then turns into a cacao and woody scent, smooth, and really quite distinct. There was a sweeter flanker version of this called Kokrico by Night, but it is really tough to find a bottle, after it was discontinued.

Update: This one can be difficult to find now, also.

Not Pure Chocolate, But Fantastic Fragrance

Christian Dior Dior Homme Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce– To me, the cacao is more noticeable in Dior Homme Intense rather than, the original. It takes on a powdered chocolate aroma, with dry cedar, vetiver, and of course iris surrounding the cacao note.

This isn’t a pure chocolate scent, by itself, but it does play a major role in this fragrance which is one of the best on the market. The opening act of this fragrance, is one of my favorites of all-time, and it also provides good performance. My Full Review

A Valentino Blend

Valentino Uomo FOR MEN by Valentino – 3.4 oz EDT Spray– Uomo isn’t a totally chocolate-led fragrance, but the note is there. However, it is going to be paired with bergamot, hazelnut and coffee notes, which further its gourmand stylings.

It does share a lot of similarities with Dior Intense and the old Dior Homme. Yet, it also does its own thing, and was enjoyable enough for me to grab a full bottle of.

The sweet creaminess and the juicy bergamot citrus is most apparent in the opening act. The later dry down will reveal more leather, coffee, and that nice chocolate facet. Don’t expect a complete chocolate takeover, but you will get plenty of it with this one, just blended.

Extreme Sweet

Bad Boy Extreme– I’ll put Bad Boy Extreme on the list, as I think that this is the best of the series. It does have a significant cacao note, but apparently Bad Boy Dazzling Garden, is more focused on that from what I understand. Haven’t yet tried that flanker, however.

This one is a blend of notes like cacao, plum, tonka bean, and ginger. It’s sweet, spicy, and fresh early on. But, once it hits the dry down I personally get a lot of the cacao and tonka bean working together.

Not a straight up chocolate fragrance, but one that should work well, if that’s what you’re looking for. Great performance and a cologne that could pretty easily find a spot in one’s scent rotation.

Nutty, Spiced, Cacao

Chelsea Nights by Bond No. 9– This perfume starts out with cacao and hazelnut coming on powerfully. 

The cacao note is the more noticeable of the two but the hazelnut is also present and adds a great nuttiness to the mix.

Chelsea Nights isn’t a a sweet and sugary fragrance. It’s got saffron, oud, a light rose, and myrrh. Yes, it’s sweet but it has a cinnamon sort of kick that comes through, warmth, a bit of smokiness floating underneath.

The end has a good deal of rich suede and vanilla. But, this comes across a leathery with the saffron note still being in the mix. It has settled down in terms of both spiciness and sweetness.

Smoother and creamy. Chelsea Nights hits so many different levels with its depth and is well worth checking out. Not a stand alone chocolate scent, but one with a good mix of other notes, to what we’re looking for.

Woods and Cocoa Bean

Giorgio Armani Emporio Armani Diamonds Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 1 Ounce– Cocoa bean, bergamot, and amber lead Emporio Armani Diamonds out of the gate. It is a brilliant trio, that isn’t to heavy but has a nice dynamic sweetness.

This then dries down with a woody base, but the chocolate remains freshly sweet. Nice performance and just a great scent. The citrus and cocoa bean opening is an amazing start, the warm amber note fills the heart of this scent.

Dry with a nice base of vetiver and guiac wood. Though, not too heavy and gives off a stylish and smooth aroma.

Cheapie Chocolate

Masaki Matsushima Chocolat Mat Eau de Parfum Spray, 2.7 Ounce– A really nice and inexpensive unisex chocolate perfume, which adds coconut, musk, and some creamy sandalwood to the dominant chocolate top note.

What’s great is that there is a bit of watermelon hidden in its depths, which emerges ever so gently, before folding back into the composition. Not great staying power, but one cheap enough to reapply.

High End Gourmand

Bond No. 9 So New York by Bond No. 9 Eau De Parfum Spray 3.3-Ounces– A pricier unisex fragrance from Bond No. 9, So New York, utilizes cocoa powder and espresso (with the former being dominant), to create a delicious and somewhat spicy scent.

It opens with a tart plum flanking those two notes and dries down with that role being played by patchouli. Rather simple, but quite nice.

Spiced Chocolate, but Discontinued

Polo Big Pony 2 By Ralph Lauren Edt .5 Oz- The whole Big Pony line from Ralph Lauren, were quite simple and straightforward colognes, and this is no different. Big Pony 2 takes cocoa and a spicy pepper/musk combo.

It’s quite a warm scent and the dry down is more of a chocolate and musk, with less of the initial pepper kick. You can still find some bottles around, but it is getting tougher.

Sweet Coffee and Chocolate

(Boticario Coffee (Man) Collection – Paradiso Eau De Toillete 3.38 Fl Oz)– A fresh and tropical blend of coffee and cacao, with amber and coconut. This one is sweet, with a cardamom spice, that isn’t too heavy but does give it a distinction away from being just a coffee cup smelling fragrance.

A great and masculine gourmand with a solid blend of chocolate aroma mixed with coffee beans.

Greed is Chocolate

MONTALE Chocolate Greedy Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 fl. oz.– Chocolate Greedy gives you a lovely chocolate aroma, that is supported by vanilla, and a hint of coffee.

The coffee is mostly around, at the start, but gets overtaken by a bitter orange.

Honestly, not personally a fan of the bitter orange note, but it ultimately isn’t too much of a distraction. As it dries down, it takes on more of a scent of chocolate baked goods, with its warmth.

Earlier it can smell more like a drier powdered dark chocolate. Which, this is a cacao note, but the vanilla and other notes add the creaminess.

Very good performance here. The aroma goes from baked goods to a creamier feel during the middle act. Not super sweet or sugary.

10 Best Givenchy Colognes for Men

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Givenchy is a French design house with plenty of history behind it and of course a great legacy of producing some fantastic scents for both men and women.

For this list, I have selected 10 of what I feel are the top smelling colognes by Givenchy, that they have produced. I have updated things to provide more options, as some have been discontinued, since I originally published this page.

Favorite Men’s Fragrances by Givenchy

Most Popular/Best Seller

Pi By Givenchy For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Ounces
A sweet blend of vanilla and almond with underlying notes of cedar, rosemary, and mandarin to give it a dash of woodsy and citrus flavor.

Pi is another very good option for those who enjoy vanilla (along with Le Male and Opium) and is best served for use in winter. Longevity is pretty hit or miss.

The newer bottles do feel quite a bit different, than the older ones, that I remember. It does still have that great vanilla and almond combination with some boozy flourishes. Though, it feels like its lost a step.

pi

Privee Entry

Gentleman Reserve Privee- Other people seem to love this one much more than I do. I think it’s a good fragrance with an astonishingly good opening act. After that, it’s nice, but still worth checking out.

Reserve Privee kicks things off with bergamot citrus, whiskey, and chestnut. The iris note is also present, giving this Givenchy fragrance a classy floral touch. But, the whiskey with the nuttiness and the bergamot is so freaking good.

As it dries down, it becomes more about the iris, amber, and wood notes. The chestnut seems more like a chocolatey aroma than nutty. It’s all dry, warm, and that dynamic booziness that I liked it gone.

Nonetheless, this is a good cologne at the very least and might be some guys favorite signature fragrance. The performance is solid and this is one you should try. Reserve Privee full review

The Other Gentleman

Gentleman EDP– I’m kind of late to this one, but it’s definitely deserving of a spot on the list. Personally, I wasn’t too excited about trying EDP, since the EDT version wasn’t super impressive. This one is.

Gentleman EDP is thoroughly great and might be better for some guys versus Reserve Privee. The iris note gets it compared to Dior Homme Intense and Valentino Intense, but it is a distinct fragrance from both of them. Better than the Valentino, I think.

That iris note is joined by some spiciness, benzoin, woody notes in the dry down, and the creaminess of vanilla (with a nice helping of tonka bean, also). Not super heavy, with its light citrus top note, but one that’s going to be an autumn and winter wear.

The performance is good, doesn’t disappoint me, in that regard. Gentleman EDP is a crowd pleaser, that’s sure to get complements and is super easy to wear in most cold weather scenarios.

Extremely Good

Gentleman Society Extreme– This has quickly become a favorite for me in 2024. I wasn’t too enthralled with original Society issuance, but this Extreme version is awesome.

Peppermint, nutmeg, and iced coffee really help to separate this one and give it a better balance than the EDP.

It’s cold and fresh, joined by the sage note and vanilla. It’s for sure got an iced coffee vibe to it, but one that’s got some extra flavor mixed in.

More iris and less of the sage and daffodil, found in the original Society. Obviously, there are overlaps, but this is a better formula with even better performance. Society Extreme is a winner. Society Extreme review

Boisee 

Gentleman EDP Boisee– Coriander and black pepper give Boisee a fresher start than might be expected from an iris based cologne. This flanker is a really great entry from Givenchy and is an option for those who want a woodier edition.

Cocoa bean and patchouli as further depth do Gentleman Boisee, but really this one is going to be about the iris, sandalwood, and cedar in the latter stages of the wear.

It has plenty of similarities with the original EDP listed above. However, I think that I prefer this one and the earlier freshness and later woods.

Performance is adequate, but Boisee smells great and is an easy one to wear in a variety of situations. Gentleman Boisee review

Sweet, Smooth, and Masculine (Discontinued)

Gentlemen Only Intense– Gentlemen Only Intense, is to me, the best release from the Gentlemen Only line that Givenchy released over the past 5-6 years. This one opens up with a smooth, warm, and sweet aroma.

Tonka bean, leather, and amber lead the way. This is an opening act which definitely draws me in, as these are some of my favorite notes, used in men’s fragrances. It is noticeably sweeter than the original Gentlemen Only, with less of the fresh spiciness, at least initially.

Though, you will get mint, pink pepper, and some mandarin orange like the original.

As it dries down, you will get more woody/smoky aromas coming through. But, the entire thing remains smooth with a masculine sweetness. The main downside here, is the longevity and overall sillage. It’s actually a moderate scent and not really ‘intense’.

This has been discontinued, but it is one that is worthwhile, if you can find a cheap bottle online. Gentlemen Only Intense Review

gentlemen only intense

Classic Givenchy

Givenchy Gentlemen Only Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 100ml, 3.3 Ounce
A classic fragrance which dates back to the 1970s, Gentleman, is a spicy/woodsy scent with notes of patchouli and leather as its highlights.

It is mature and refined with a citrus note that adds some sweetness to the mix.

Gentlemen opens up with a big and bold punch. Spice with citrus and that underlying earthy woodiness, that will come to dominate later on. Oh, along with the usual leather note.

This is probably best served by being worn by a mature man or just a guy who’s style can compliment a blast from the past. Still a powerhouse.

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Most Unique Givenchy Cologne

Xeryus Rouge for Men by Givenchy 3.3oz 100ml EDT Spray
Xeryus Rouge seems to be a different beast all together. To start with the notes include things like cactus, geranium, and pimento to go along with staples such as cedar and sandalwood.

Secondly, it has that exotic and oriental type of quality to it…it’s spicy yet fresh and slightly aquatic. Xeryus Rouge is just unique and is the type of special cologne that can set a man apart from the crowd.

It has sweetness, spice, and a total freshness. This has been around for decades now and is completely underrated, in my opinion. The red bottle really does fit the character of this one. It’s hot and smooth, with herbal highlights. Great stuff.

Balanced Daily Wear

Givenchy Pour Homme by Givenchy For Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.3 Ounce
Notes include cedar, tangerine, coriander, and grapefruit. A light citrus/woodsy smell that is very clean and crisp.

The cedar note leads things here and is paired mainly with the tangerine, with a bit of grapefruit.

Beyond that you get the dry woodsy aroma, with some spicy coriander, to give Givenchy Pour Homme an edge. Good daily wear option.

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Fresh Summer Spice

Givenchy Pour Homme Cologne, Blue Label, 3.4 Ounce
Another citrus and woodsy effort, though, done better than the scent above. This is a scent built for the summertime with notes of grapefruit, bergamot, tangerine, pepper, cedar, and vetiver.

Obviously, these two have plenty of overlap between them, go with this one if you prefer more of the citrus air versus being led by cedar. That’s not to say, that Blue Label smells like Pour Homme, it doesn’t really.

Blue label has a sweet fruity top and then transitions into woodsy, with a pepper and cardamom blend, to give it some spiciness.

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xeryus rouge review

7 Best Coconut Scented Colognes for Men

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Coconut has one of the most recognizable and enjoyable fruity aromas, on the planet. When it comes to use in fragrances, this note is usually reserved for women’s perfumes, and there aren’t too many men’s scents where it plays a major role.

It’s a shame, because when done right, it can be a fantastic addition to a cologne and really help separate you from what most other guys are wearing. In this post, I want to cover some of the best option for men who want a coconut scented fragrance. 

Favorite Coconut Fragrances for Men

le beau parfum review

Coconut, Starfruit, and Vanilla

CK Eternity Now MEN Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 OZ. – This has probably been my favorite cologne, to wear over the past week or so. Eternity Now has a gorgeous opening act, that is simply captivating.

It kicks off with our target note and star fruit. This combination is fantastic and the star fruit is the strongest up top. There is some light spice from ginger and anise, before it dries down into a creamy fragrance with additional vanilla and tonka bean.

Ultimately, it’s mostly a coconut/vanilla blend with some cedar and lingering star fruit. I get about 6-7 hours of wear from this, plenty of complements, and the price is very affordable now. Eternity Now Review

Update: This is still affordable and easily gotten online, as of my 2024 update to this page. Seen bottles for under $35. 

Coconut, Tonka, Citrus

Jean Paul Gaultier “Le Beau” Eau De Toilette Spray– Le Beau is a JPG release, not to be confused with Le Beau Male, that is a pretty simple summer fragrance with a prominent coconut note.

This one opens up with a bergamot note, that lends it a citrus flair. But, this one doesn’t go full tropical, as it puts forth its coconut.

There is a bit of spiciness to it in the beginning, but that really fades in favor of the tonka bean and coconut combination. Some creaminess and a slight vanilla kick.

This one is more of a casual wear, with a nice powerful sillage, but with just a decent longevity. Sweet in a warm, sugary way, just like other Le Male fragrances.

Update: You might want to go with the newer Le Beau Le Parfum version. It opens with a pineapple and ginger kick to that coconut note. Then, will dry down with a sandalwood and tonka bean creaminess to our target note. 

 

Coco Boss

Boss Bottled Pacific by Hugo Boss– Salty, woody, and coconut. This is a nice newer mainstream scent that has come out since last time I updated this page.

It actually has some elements that remind me of Kenzo Homme Intense (no coconut), not a total overlap, though. Kenzo does have the Marine version that supposedly like Bottled Pacific, but I have yet to try it. 

The coconut is creamy here, much more than in some of the other offerings. There’s a lemon squeeze in the early stages, before this one gets woodier, and feels like a hot tropical island scent.

The saltiness is there throughout, but isn’t completely massive within the composition. Cypress, later sandalwood, and the coconut are the focus with this Boss cologne.

Apparently, this one is difficult to find now. Even though it came out in 2023. The Dua Brand does have their version of this formula, found here: Dua Bottled Pacific

Woody Coconut

Ferrari Silver Essence Eau de Parfum EDP – This one is a different use of coconut, drier, and paired with lots of wood. Ferrari has lot of fragrances, mostly hit or miss, but Silver Essence is among the best.

It kicks off with a spice mix of cinnamon and nutmeg, it comes off very fresh, as there is a prominent cedar and birch wood that pops through the composition. Then, of course, is the coconut.

The coconut adds its sweet and fragrance aroma on top of the fresh spiciness, to create something wholly unique, and really nice. Spicy, smoky, and sweet wood. Very good performance, at an affordable price point.

Coconut Amber

Cool Water Intense by Davidoff for Men 4.2 oz Eau de Parfum Spray– This intense version of Cool Water, doesn’t have much of anything to do with the original, but it does have our target ingredient. Plus, it surprisingly good.

Intense kicks off with a greenish kick and citrus profile  that  is  flanked  by  the  coconut water note. Green mandarin is the top note here. Clean and bright.  Later,  the  coconut  and  amber/ambroxan  will fully takeover the wear.

Fruity with the orange and coconut notes and super smooth with the amber. Simple. This stuff projects like a beast and goes for a long time. Still a casual sort of fragrance, but the best Davidoff release in a long while.

Summer Beachy Lotion

Creed Virgin Island Water Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Fl Ounce– Virgin Island Water is some folks favorite Creed wear, during the summer months. For me, it is the third best, as I’m not as high on it. VIW opens with a citrus and rum accord, the citrus being bergamot and lime.

I really like that opening blast, as it feels like sitting on a beach, with a tropical drink in hand. When the coconut comes in heavier, this one starts to take on more of a suntan lotion aroma.

Plenty of people enjoy that, I think that it is just okay. Nonetheless, it still has to be considered, on a list of the top men’s coconut fragrances.

Virgin Island Water is built for the summertime, though, and for that it is an over nice choice for men or women. Virgin Island Water Review

 

 

Milky Coconut Scent

Comptoir Sud Pacifique COCO EXTREME EDT, 1 fl. oz.– This is one for those who want more of a pure coconut fragrance, with a sweet-milky finish, and flanked by vanilla.

It’s got a smoked quality with an added almond note, which helps to take away some of that usual sugary sweetness. It’s sill is, a sweet scent, however. 

Coco Extreme gives you a high quality summertime experience, with solid longevity, and some decent projection for the first few hours. This is one of the unisex fragrances from the Sud Pacifique line, but one that isn’t laden with more tradition feminine notes. 

This is a great example of a coconut note. Very beachy and pleasant to wear. Easily to use in combination with other fragrances, that need a touch of coconut.