Fragrances

8 Best Smelling Gucci Colognes

by

Beyond the other fashion products Gucci creates, it has a very popular line of fragrances for men and women. Its colognes offer a blend of unique scents that remain masculine and versatile to fit a consumer’s lifestyle.

While there are plenty of options for a man to choose from among the Gucci line of colognes, I wanted to focus on what I feel are the best perfumes pour homme from this Italian design house.

As of now, I have narrowed things down to eight scents for him, which are Gucci’s current greatest.

This list is not in order, as it is of course personal preference which scent smells the best, however, this is what I consider to be the cream of the crop. I have updated this list in 2024, to add to the original post from 2013, and change up the picks slightly.

Favorite Fragrances for Men by Gucci

Best Guilty Fragrance (Tie) and Top Summer Pick

1. Gucci Guilty Black Pour Homme Fragrance Collection 3.0-oz. Eau de Toilette– One of the many flanker fragrances to stem from the Guilty namesake, Guilty Black is possibly my favorite (it’s a toss of with this and Intense).

Note: They’ve renamed this one, Guilty Essence.

Back in 2014-2015, I would wear this one all of the time, as I found it to be quite captivating and refreshing on my skin.

Guilty Black Pour Homme doesn’t have the same distinct citrus opening, as the main versions of Guilty, but it shares a sensibility. It is very well blended with the familiar scent of coriander and lavender being rather distinct.

It does have floral heart and a woody base. Orange blossom and neroli, are very present after the initial opening. I get a ton of orange blossom on my skin, some nice lavender, and greenish ingredients.

Guilty Black always had great staying power on me and also a very good ability to project without being overpowering at all. Still a very attractive scent and one that exceeded the others using this name. Guilty Black Review

Best Daily Wear Gucci Fragrance

2. Gucci Guilty Intense Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3 Ounce– Guilty Intense is a fresh and clean scent, which delivers a unique scent for guys who demand a signature fragrance. Mandarin, pink pepper, lilac, amber, and other ingredients in the notes blend well to produce a memorable experience.

Note: This has now been discontinued.

This one is better than the original Guilty, in my opinion. It doesn’t have as much of the lemon note from the start, but instead goes heavier on the lavender and amber. Again, I go back and forth between this and Black, but Intense gives me a nice amber finish to its citrus start.

It’s warm and bright with just hints of spice from light coriander and patchouli poking through the aroma. It is quite a linear scent, the dry down essentially adds some floral notes to the mix (orange blossom and neroli) that helps to further develop that citrus feel.

The sillage is on the upper end of moderate and I can get 7-8 hours of solid wear out of Guilty Intense. One of its strengths, is that, this fragrance can pretty much be worn year round and can go from office to date night without issue. It’s an all around solid scent. Guilty Intense Review

Best Winter Perfume for Men

3. Gucci for Men Eau de Toilette Spray, 3 Ounce– This namesake fragrance delivers a woodsy aroma, which is both highly masculine and sensual. Bergamot, Cyprus and violet notes open the scent followed by tobacco leaves and jasmine before the final note which includes amber settles in.

A gorgeous fragrance that would be a welcome addition to any man’s cologne collection. The tobacco is the main draw here, not a heavy scent, but light and exudes confidence.

Gucci for Men is very dry and green, cypress and violet, flanker the tobacco note and you have several other outdoorsy ingredients supporting the structure.

From what I understand, this one might have been reformulated, so I cannot speak to its current performance. The older bottles were never beasts in terms of sillage (more light to moderate), but always had good longevity.

Top Versatile Pick

4. Gucci Pour Homme Ii By Gucci For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz.– This Gucci fragrance is clean and never overpowering. There is a bit of spice to it but people will be wondering what exactly it is you’re wearing.

Pour Homme II opens up with that familiar citrus note, bergamot, but one quickly realizes that you are going to get a unique experience with notes of cinnamon, violet leaf, black tea, and pimento.

At times, it is smooth, others spicy, quite floral, and then feels green and herbal. Gucci II is a very subtle wear, not weak, but it’s never one that is going to choke out the room. You will catch it wafting up to your nose throughout the day and get that feeling of, “Damn, I smell good.”

You’ll probably have to find this Gucci scent online, as I haven’t seen it in a physical store, in quite some time. Still plenty of bottles, though, and it’s a damn good fragrance.

Best Unique Cologne and Longest Lasting Gucci

5. Gucci Guilty Absolute Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3 Ounce– The flankers to Guilty that have been coming out as of late, have been quite different from the original scents.

Guilty Absolute is definitely a new experience for the brand, but what I think is the best of the newer flankers.

Now, this is really powerful, masculine, and intense. So, it isn’t a cologne which will work for everybody. It opens with a nice leather and very earthy patchouli note, packing a punch right from the start.

However, as it dries down it really does actually get drier with notes of cypress and golden wood, taking over much of the composition.

The finale is a blend of the leather and cypress note, with a strong sillage, and double digit hour wear time. Guilty Absolute, isn’t going to be one that appeals to everybody.

In fact, some guys will find it overwhelming at times. Nonetheless, it offers something different and niche, that some men will swear by it. Read my Guilty Absolute Review

Interesting Guilty Flanker

6. Gucci Guilty Love Edition by Gucci Eau De Toilette Spray 3 oz Men– So, I tried this and the newer EDP version of Guilty, and I actually prefer this one. I do really like the opening act of EDP, but it pretty much just dries down to a flatter version of the original with rose on top.

Meanwhile, Love Edtion opens up with a delicious mix of kumquat and orange, making this a nice zesty option for the spring and summer months.

It actually reminds me of having a similar style to Chanel Allure Blanc, with its pink pepper, vetiver, and other dry elements. The difference being, the Chanel has a vanilla finish and lemon, while Guilty Love Edition is soapier and floral.

I really dig the combination of ginger and pink pepper. The lavender is nice and, this does have some overlap with Guilty Black, yet retains its own style. The performance isn’t amazing, but I really enjoyed this one. Guilty Love Edition review

Replacement for Guilty Intense

7. Guilty Pour Homme Parfum by Gucci (Macy’s)– This is a new release for 2022, has a lot in common with Guilty Intense, but is a more refined and better version. I bought a full bottle upon release and have been really enjoying this Gucci perfume.

To me, it is already one of the best Guilty colognes from the series. It opens up with, a lemon peel-like zest, nutmeg, and juniper notes. It is less of a pure citrus play versus others in the series, but has a delightful aromatic quality to it.

Guilty Pour Homme Parfum is a balance of all the signature Guilty aromas; from floral to citrus to fresh, but with more woodsy influence. 7-8 hours of performance, but pretty darn solid all around. Read my full review (or video below).

Eighth Elixir

Guilty Elixir– Personally, I think Elixir Pour Homme is overrated. That being said, it’s mostly a fine cologne, that other people like way more than me.

Pimento and nutmeg lead things off with a spiciness, but the vanilla and iris notes are really going to shine in this one. It’s got a bit of a kick, but the fuzziness of the benzoin note prevents it from going too far into that direction.

Floral, powdery, a bit sweet, warm with an amber. That’s about what you get from Gucci Guilty Elixir.

I really like the opening act, but it’s somewhat bland to me after that. I will say that the performance here is good. So, even though this is an expensive one, it does a solid job at sticking around.

It’s different from the rest of the series and kind of unisex. Enjoyable enough, but not something I’m crazy for. Guilty Elixir review

Other Discontinued Gucci Colognes that were great:

Gucci Rush

Gucci Envy

There you have it the short list of the best men’s colognes by Gucci. This design house has had many winners over the years, Rush, Envy, and Pour Homme, are all wonderful choices if you can still find a bottle of them.

However, the ones that are still in production should add some luxury to any man’s toilette and keep him smelling great.

3 Best Smelling Jimmy Choo Colognes

by

Jimmy Choo really became famous as a women’s fashion brand, which then expanded into ladies’ fragrances. However, it has now more recently, come on the scene as a seller of men’s colognes. While it doesn’t have a huge back catalog of options yet, the brand has already become appreciated, in the fragrance world.

In this post, I want to present my top three scents from the designer. I’ve also listed some further honorable mentions, after my favorite picks.

Best Smelling Jimmy Choo Colognes

Top Jimmy Choo Cologne

1. Intense Eau De Toilette, Fougere Oriental Woody, 3.3 fl. oz. JIMMY CHOO – I’m only going to put Jimmy Choo Man Intense on the list, ahead of the original Man (I didn’t want to include both here, as they’re so closely related).

Though, I will say, I think I prefer the opening few minutes of the original more. However, I get better performance from Intense, as well as the overall smell in totality.

Intense gives you a nice juicy fruitiness, paired with lavender, and tonka bean. Sitting underneath that, is a nice small dose of spiciness, provided by pepper and patchouli. Man Intense is very well-liked and will receive complements.

This is the type of cologne, for a guy who wants a simple daily wear, that will be appreciated and not too heavy. No worries, the Intense name, doesn’t mean the sillage is unbearable. Pretty moderate, in fact, but that’s what you’d want for its purpose. My Review

The Next in Line

2. Jimmy Choo Man Blue Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.3 Ounce JIMMY CHOO Man – Sage and lavender are the main notes, up top, along with a slight peppery ingredient. It’s starts out fresh and spicy, before it gets smoothed out/sweetened by: vanilla, leather, and sandalwood.

Blue has become one that I’ve come back to now and then, as the opening act appeals to me on certain days. It feels like a borderline great fragrance, that’s just missing that extra something.

This does become more about the vanilla and amber notes, as it dries down, which gives Man Blue a sweet and a bit of a powdered finish. For a while, you do get a very nice middle play between the emerging woods, and the trio of lavender, vanilla, and amber.

The longevity is pretty solid, but the sillage can end up being somewhat light, but still serviceable. Very nice smell, however. Man Blue Review

Third Place Finisher

3. Man Ice Eau De Toilette, 3.3 fl. oz.– Super fresh and chilled citrus, that is utterly perfect for a summer’s day. Led by citron, with the aid of orange and lime, Man Ice takes on the aroma of something akin to lemonade.

The dry down becomes, woodier, with a slight soapy air about it. The cedar note adds to the freshness and is joined by a light touch of vetiver. It is pretty limited in its uses versus what a lot of men will want in a daily wear.

Not much complexity here, but a joy in the right situation, with a smell along the lines of Dior Homme Cologne. I do like these citrusy lemonade sorts of colognes, but they aren’t great with the longevity.

If you can get a bottle of Jimmy Choo Man Ice for cheap, it’s a nice addition, for a summer’s day.  Read my full review: Man Ice

The Others (Ranked)

JIMMY CHOO Man Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3 Fl Oz– Honestly, this one smells pretty good, and that’s never really been my major qualm with it. But, the performance of Jimmy Choo Man is also pretty atrocious.

Similar aroma to Coach for Men, but the Choo is better. Pineapple and melon are fresh and clean with underlying pink pepper and suede, mixing the smoothness and spice.

Choo Man will settle into being mostly about the pineapple and lavender notes. It’s pretty attractive and versatile. Again, though, it lasts about 4 hours on my skin. Not great. As such, if you want a bottle, try to get it at discount. Jimmy Choo Man Review

Man Aqua– This is another one for the summertime. I still lean toward Ice above Aqua, but this is a really pleasant ‘blue’ fragrance from Jimmy Choo.

Grapefruit and sage are the main attractions, sitting on top of a marine accord. Not super oceanic, but clean and fresh, with some added cardamom giving it some more spiciness.

It dries down a bit earthy and woodsy. Patchouli and moss are present. Not that it turns completely in any direction, Man Aqua is quite a balanced cologne.

Another one that doesn’t have amazing performance, but this is a scent that has mass appeal, and is easy to wear.

Urban Hero by Jimmy Choo– Urban Hero is a newer release after the Man line of fragrances, but it’s not that great. It’s like a mix of the one above and Guess Seductive Homme.

It’s more like an impression of those up top. It’s warm and sweet without much distinction, as to what notes you’re getting. ‘Lemon caviar’ is the listed note. That’ll change and this will become more about leather and the amber note.

Under that? Some rosewood and vetiver. Urban Hero is okay with how it smells. Not too exciting or complex. This is another one, that’ll put out around four hours of wear. Very forgettable. Urban Hero Review

10 Best Smelling Bvlgari Colognes

by

This is a list of the top ten fragrances for men by the design house, Bvlgari. Each of these perfumes is unique and smells great in their own right.

The key, is to find the one that pairs well with your own personal tastes, and sense of style. All types are represented here, from aquatic to the more spicy or woodsy scents.

They are mostly all among Bvlgari’s most popular, with some other, underrated gems. Some will be more versatile than a few of the niche entries on the list and I try to describe where each one falls on the spectrum.

Favorite Best Bvlgari Colognes for Men

Top Winter/Nightlife Bvlgari Fragrance

Bvlgari Man in Black Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce
Man in Black by Bvlgari is my favorite cologne from this brand. I love its dark, spicy, and boozy aroma. Its one that I’ve gotten plenty of complements on wearing, over the past two years, including one girl telling me repeatedly how, ‘incredibly sexy’ I smelled.

It wasn’t something that I was all that crazy about at first, but this cologne really grew on me in a big way. Wearing this on a cold evening, really let’s the fragrance shine.

This one gets plenty dark and has a smoky undertone, that is simply great. Boozy and spicy, then, smooth and warm.

Man in Black is spice soaked in rum, with a smooth leather and creamy tonka bean to calm it down. Add to that, tobacco plus oud, and you have yourself a highly masculine scent that gets noticed. Man in Black Full Review

Update: The Parfum version of this has been released. It’s a spicier blend, without the rum, and an iris note which gives it some distinction. I still prefer the EDP.

bvlgari man in black cologne

Top Spring/Summer Fragrance Overall

Bvlgari Man Extreme by Bvlgari 3.4 oz Eau de Toilette Spray– Man Extreme has much better staying power, than the original Bvlgari Man (listed lower on the page). However, the two really aren’t similar in how they smell.

Man Extreme is led by citrus, with vetiver undertones. The woodiness and vetiver, is the major overlap between these colognes. Ultimately, the arrive at different places.

Most importantly, is the inclusion of a great and quite unique, cactus note. It is a freshly spiced citrus scent, for the warmer months, with a note which really helps to set it apart. Very nice, with good performance, and the sillage isn’t too loud.

The citrus and cactus blend, up top is really awesome. It’s a rather dry scent, much like the original, and you get the fresh and smoothness of vetiver in the latter stages. Along with, some light cardamom spice.

Tygar Summer

Tygar by Bvlgari– Tygar is one of the brand’s more exclusive and expensive scents. It’s not too complicated, but is a great citrus wear for the warmer months of the year.

To me, it splits the difference between Afternoon Swim and L’Immensite by LV. This one goes with a heavy use of grapefruit (feels like some orange is there too), as the citrus. With amber and wood to round things out.

It’s also got a fresh kick with the lovely ginger note and a musky finish that pairs with the amber note in the back half.

Not exactly the same as either of those Louis Vuitton fragrances, but gives you the same well put together feeling, in a cologne that’s pretty chill and casual for the summertime.

Best Oceanic Aqva

BVLGARI Aqva Atlantiqve Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.3 Ounce– The Aqva line inhabits its own space in the male fragrance world. You have to be a fan of the marine/oceanic fragrances to truly appreciate them.

Atlantiqve is probably the top pick, in my mind. This is a very nice fragrance that comes across sort of like an oceanic version of Versace’s Dylan Blue.

The two are most alike at the start, when the citrus is strongest. The sea notes are there, but it isn’t overly salty, and there is of course the ambergris.

Atlantiqve does a great job at evoking the depths of the ocean, while still bringing the pleasant citrus notes. The latter stages really start to bring in the amber and drier notes. Salty with that amberwood note, that’s found in Light Blue Eau Intense.

Best Fresh Daily Wear

Bvlgari Blv By Bvlgari For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Oz.
Bvlgari Blv is a scent that sort of stands alone, in terms of its unique style. It has that familiar and subtle spice of ginger and cardamom.

It has a super fresh quality and woody/outdoorsy notes, holding up its base.

Blv also brings in its greenish tobacco note, mainly the flower, which plays quite well off of that ginger top. I really dig this one, as ginger, never seems to get much play as a strong note. It’s usually just a role player, but here, it gets the chance to shine.

Blv is an every day wear for casual situations or an office environment. That low key spice is wrapped up in a powdered finish, which is quite nice.  My Blv Review

bvlgari blv

Top Woodsy/Unique

Bvlgari Man Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 5 Ounce– Bvlgari Man is a woody fragrance that is soft, smooth, and sweet with that bit of honey at its heart. Man is not at all an overpowering fragrance, it is more of one that demands others get closer for a better aroma.

It opens up with violet leaf, pear, lotus, and a bit of citrus. It is sweet, while being floral/woody, and especially dry.

The floral notes will lighten, as it moves on, and you will be left with more vetiver and woods. Bvlgari man is clean, with a dry sweetness, and crisp aroma in the beginning.

That is not to say that Bvlgari Man is completely weak, it isn’t, it is more subtle, refined, and masculine but use more sprays. I do wish that it was bolder and had top notch sillage, because it is a pretty unique and fine smelling scent.  Full Bvlgari Man Review

Update: It’s discontinued. But, Dua has their inspired version of it: Dua’s Charming Man

bvlgari man

Neroli Clean

Bvlgari Man Wood Neroli– A very nice spring/summertime wear that is indeed in the same vein as Neroli Portofino  by Tom Ford, but not at all an exact match. Wood Neroli, is much woodier (as the name suggest), particularly in the dry down.

It opens with a fresh squeeze of bergamot and the signature neroli note. It’s got a nice balance of the citrus juice and neroli for the first bit of the wear. Then, the neroli will get the upper hand between them.

The dry down is where this one really takes on its own unique qualities. Cypriol, cedar, and other woody notes combine with musk and amber in the base.

The earlier stages feel more like a clean soap. Then, it shift to a fresher woodsier clean.

Classiest Bvlgari Cologne

Bvlgari Pour Homme Soir By Bvlgari For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 oz
Homme Soir is such a simplistic and straightforward kind of cologne, but I don’t think that I’ve encountered anything else like it.

It is a classy and refine fragrance that is brilliant in its use of a limited amount of notes.

There’s the citrus top of bergamot and a green herbal aroma of tea. This is all surrounded by the warm understated amber note and the crisp dryness of papyrus.

Update: This one has been discontinued for a while now. Though, the brand did release a new EDP version of Pour Homme. So, maybe this one will also get a refresher at some point.

bvlgari pour soir

Original Casual Aquatic

Bvlgari Aqua By Bvlgari For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces– Aqva is obviously an aquatic scent. From the start we get a strong blend of two types of orange, salty seaweed, and cedar driftwood.

It has that really oceanic and water laden citrus fruit vibe, that strikes hard at first.

However, it doesn’t stay citrus laden throughout like most aquatics and ends up with quite a moderate sillage. The orange note, actually fades pretty fast, and you get that seaweed coming in to its full effect.

That is joined by lavender and the remaining cedar wood. Really good casual scent for the summer months and feels like being at the shore. Full Bvlgari Aqva Review

bvlgari aqua

Essence Line

Bvlgari Man Wood Essence– For me, the Essence line was mostly a disappointment from Bvlgari. But, there are those who like it, and Wood Essence is the best of them.

It surprised me that this and Terrae, were the colognes that I enjoyed the most from the series. I would’ve though it’d be the others.

It kicks off with a mix of sweetness and citrus zest. It’s not heavy or too overdone with the citrus notes, but feels quite refreshing.

Coriander shines for about 15 minutes, but this one is going to be led by the cypress and cedar notes.

Not too amazing with the performance. Though, it’s good for most purposes.

Would be my last pick on this list, but I think Wood Essence delivers a nice enough wear to be included in the current crop of fragrances from the brand. Wood Essence review

wood essence review

8 Best Smelling Lacoste Colognes for Men

by

Lacoste is a sporty brand which has its roots in the tennis world from its very foundation. It is famous for its alligator logo which is often emblazoned onto polo shirts.

Today, I’d like to take a closer look at their men’s fragrance line and present the best cologne options for guys by Lacoste. Also see: Best Lacoste Perfumes for Women

What are the Best Perfumes for Men by Lacoste?

Top Lacoste for Summer

Lacoste Essential Eau de Toilette for Men, 4.2 fl. oz.
A fresh and fun scent that is a great casual wear during the warmer months of the year. Essential blends citrus and more woodsy/earthy notes to create a real memorable fragrance for men.

The citrus notes are most noticeable at the top, but the notes are none too sharp. Bergamot and tangerine give it that sparkling personality.

As it moves forward, Lacoste Essential takes on its super fresh and sort of soapy aroma. It features green leafy notes with a hint of peppery spice and patchouli. This is a lighter wear with a zesty citrus and an interesting tomato leaf.

The whole thing is pretty blended, so it can be difficult to distinguish notes at times. The projection is just okay, but the smell is great. Spring and summertime wear for casual or work days.  Lacoste Essential Review

lacoste essential

Great New Lacoste Cologne

L.12.12 Blanc Eau Fraiche– While this does have the Blanc name, Eau Fraiche is pretty different from the original. They share the grapefruit note, but this one also has lemon, ginger, apple, and lavender rounding things out.

It’s a very fresh citrus scent with some additional spice and dry woods in the base. Much less floral than Blanc. This is a great under the radar fragrance for the spring and summer months..

The dry down is mostly made up of the remaining citrus, cedar, vetiver, and the juniper note that still hangs around. Oh and the ambroxan, that isn’t too massive in this composition. Pretty good performance for this sort of grapefruit/lemon based cologne.

Fresh Citrus and Woods

Lacoste L’homme Intense Eau De Toilette, 3.3 oz– Citrus and rhubarb open up L’Homme Intense by Lacoste, which sort of reminds me of Hugo Red, but this one is much sweeter than that Boss cologne.

I liked this one upon first trying, but it eventually grew into a fragrance that I enjoyed quite a lot. Lacoste calls it a woody spicy fragrance, but to me, it’s sweet/fresh spice/woods. Ginger and black pepper come through early on, but the spice isn’t overly loud.

As it dries down, it does become woodier, but the orange and rhubarb add a unique vibe to this one. Performance is better than L’Homme Lacoste, but still not amazing, and it’s sillage isn’t super ‘intense’. But for an all around wear for spring and summer Intense does a lot very well.

Match Point

Match Point EDT– This one has the same rhubarb as Intense (above), but the note is much more toned down in this mix, in favor of orange.

Though, it’s not a complete citrus bomb either. It’s somewhat sweet at times, floral at others, balanced, and fresh.

Good for the warmer months of the year, Match Point EDT will become woodier as you mover further along into the wear. Just some ambroxan, but again nothing dominates. It’s not as punchy as Intense and leans sweeter.

The sage and vetiver really keep this one feeling clean when paired with the floral notes in the heart.

Best Pick for Winter

Lacoste Pour Homme Eau de Toilette for Men, 3.3 fl. oz.
A wonderful masculine blend of fruity and woodsy notes by Lacoste. It’s a light scent that will work great for guys in the springtime. Notes include: cinnamom, apple, juniper, rum, vanilla and plum. 

Lacoste Pour Homme kicks off with an awesome plum note, which is paired with citrus and crisp apple. The latter notes, aren’t particularly strong, but do complement the tartness of the plum very nicely.

It becomes warmer and sweeter, with rum and vanilla, peaking through a few minutes in. No worries about the rum note, it’s not powerful enough to turn this one into a boozy cologne.

The sillage is a lighter moderate, which makes it safe for office wear, and does have a fresher profile. Plum and vanilla, with some light spices, and a nice woody base.

lacoste

Most Unique Fragrance

Lacoste Style in Play Eau de Toilette for Men, 2.5 fl. oz.
A light, long-lasting, and refreshing smell that is a real crowd pleaser. It is inviting and and can strike a chord in a variety of situations. Notes include: patchouli, jasmine, green apple, cedar leaves, white musk, vetiver, and woods. 

Style in Play changes things up, from the rest of the pack, with its woodsy aroma blended with a similar apple note to Lacoste Pour Homme. However, that apple is amped up to give Style in Play a fruity balance to the greenish and fresh woods found in its heart.

The dry down, becomes muskier, but the pine and cedar notes remain to keep this one clean and attractive. This is actually a pretty unique cologne, for a mainstream brand, but doesn’t ever become unlikable.

in play red

Most Popular Lacoste

Lacoste Eau De Lacoste Blanc for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.3 Ounce
Blanc is not an overpowering scent by any means but one with a great deal of mystery and seductive allure to it. Blanc is a fantastic mixture of citrus and woodsy notes, that is wholly masculine.

The grapefruit note leads the opening and does so with a lot of energy. I love how positive and upbeat, wearing this one, makes me feel. It is joined by a cedar/suede combination and some light floral aroma, provided by tuberose and ylang-ylang.

Those florals aren’t too heavy, but it is nice to see them being used in a men’s fragrance.

I think that this is my favorite cologne from the L.12.12. line of scents. It has a bright grapefruit note, enough sweetness, and some earthy qualities to give it more substance.

It really utilizes ylang-ylang and tuberose well, but keeps its smooth masculine bonafides, with leather and suede.  Lacoste Blanc Review

eau blanc

Best Spicy/Herbal Fragrance

Lacoste Eau de Lacoste L.12.12 Rouge Eau de Toilette for Men, 3.3 fl. oz.
Rouge is a really great cologne for men that has a spicier profile than the other Lacoste fragrances on this list. It has notes from across the spectrum from citrus to woodsy to that spice. Not overpowering.

Update: This has been discontinued it seems. There are still bottles as of now, but Dua has their release, called: Rouge Croc. If you need an alternative.

L.12.12. Rouge, opens up with a very unique use of fruity notes, that is paired with tea. Mango is a delicious note, it is joined by a syrupy orange liqueur, and an herbal tea note. This one feels quite clean and warm, cardamom is very present at times, with a spiciness from pepper and a bit of ginger.

My favorite part of this fragrance is the dry down. It becomes woodsy, earthy, and spicy. Still, the fruit notes hang around, but it all just works much better.

I wish this one had a bit more power, because it would be an excellent wear for the summertime. Though, if you can get it cheap, Rouge is worth a try.

It is interesting in that is uses mango along with orange liqueur and tea. This creates a unique vibe and summery opening, before being joined by spicy pepper and cardamom.  Notes include: Rooibos Tea, Mandarin Orange, Mango, Pepper, Cardamom, And Woodsy Notes. Lacoste Rouge Full Review

FullSizeRender (26)

11 Best Smelling Creed Colognes for Men

by

Creed is a boutique fragrance designer that caters to the luxury crowd. Since it’s inception in the 18th century, Creed has been a renowned designer for those who seek unique and painstakingly crafted scents.

Much of it’s clientele throughout its history has been European royalty and other families residing on the upper crust of society. At least, that’s the story they tell.

Maybe much of that is marketing or legend, but the brand does provide some amazing colognes. I am going to list 11 Creed fragrances for men, which I feel are the best, after testing them out over the years.

Favorite Creed Fragrances for Him

I have now updated this page for 2024. In this iteration, I have added another cologne to the list, after spending more time with it, and really beginning to appreciate the aroma.

Secondly, I have added more info on each Creed scent, and linked to my personal review of these individual fragrances.

Since I wrote the original version of this page about 6 years ago, I have also reviewed many other fragrances by Creed, which can be found on this page: Best Men’s Cologne Reviews Page  Also, check out: Top Creed Scents for Ladies

Most Popular Creed Scent

Creed Aventus by Creed Eau De Parfum Spray for Men, 2.50-Ounce– I never really liked the opening act of Aventus, as it comes across as too harsh on my skin. The bergamot and citrus, really hits hard, but when it begins to dry down Aventus develops into something great.

The pineapple is sharp, it has a dry woody/smokiness provided by birch, and ambergris/vanilla bringing up the rear in the latter stages.  The pineapple tones down after the opening, and the dry birch and oak moss, really come into their own here.

Creed Aventus is at times sweet with vanilla undertones, then, dry and smoky. This one has a complexity, that you can fully appreciate, the more times that you wear it. All in all, Aventus is one the most balanced and enjoyed scents out on the market.

Maybe it’s over hyped, at this point, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t a great cologne. It had to become a best-seller for a reason, it wasn’t all ‘just hype’. Here is my review on Aventus

aventus

For Men and Women

Delphinus by Creed– This is a newer release to make the list. It’s better than Absolu Aventus and edges out Centarus for me. Even though, I like both of them.

I have to say, if you want a masculine fragrance, don’t go for this one. It’s powdery, floral, and definitely falls in the unisex category.

That being said, this isn’t a complete iris bomb to me. This heliotrope sticks out more, Delphinus has an initial sweetness/spice, with a warm vanilla and slight amber in the dry down.

Rich orris with a nuttiness from the almond note, gives it similarities to some other scents out there, but Delphinus is a fairly unique one from Creed. Powdery with an underlying waxy sort of aroma for stretches.

I would try to sample this Creed fragrance, if possible. At least before you commit to a full bottle. Note: Alternatively, you could go with Dua’s ‘inspired by’ perfume: Cosmic Sky of Amber.

Best Pure Vanilla Fragrance

Sublime Vanille by Creed– This fragrance is very expensive, even by Creed standards. Also, its performance isn’t the best. However, Sublime Vanille might have the best vanilla note that I’ve ever come across. It’s delicious.

It is a pretty simple fragrance. Vanilla, is joined by lemon and orange, to give it a sweet citrus creamsicle vibe. Very syrupy with a light hint of musk coming through towards the end. Not much development, but the aroma is great.

Sublime Vanille is more of a niche pick from this brand. Though, if you love vanilla, this could be a great pick for men or women.

Top Fresh Fragrance by Creed

Creed Silver Mountain Eau De Parfum Spray for Men by Creed, 4 Ounce– Silver Mountain Water is a fragrance for those guys who want something super clean, with a cold and crisp bite. It opens up with a lush citrus accord of bergamot and mandarin orange. Sort of close to Imperial Millesime, in the beginning.

Later, it can become a bit more herbal, especially when the green tea note emerges fully. SMW is a great choice for the springtime, features the same black currant note found in Aventus, while going in its own direction.

This is a very refreshing wear, in my experience, but with fairly average longevity and moderate sillage. However, its aroma alone, gets Silver Mountain Water a spot on the list. Silver Mountain Water Review

silver mountain

Popular Clean Scent

Green Irish Tweed By Creed For Men- Green Irish Tweed is right up there with Aventus, as one of the most popular colognes by Creed. It starts off with lemon verbena, but dries down as a fresh woody scent.

Though, the wood is present throughout. Sandalwood, is the most noticeable of the woods.

Once past the opening stages, I think that this really comes into its own, and the citrus/wood balance becomes really nice.

GIT often gets compared with Cool Water by Davidoff, but to me, that similar smell is only for part of the wear. Cool Water is much more aquatic, also.  Plus, the Creed does it better.

Green Irish Tweed has a bit of a blend between soapy and powdery, during its dry down. This is probably my favorite part of the wear. The performance is really quite nice.

The sillage is strong enough to be noticeable, but not overwhelming. Plus, it will last long enough for a full work day.  Review of Green Irish Tweed

green irish tweed

The Oud Option

Royal Oud by Creed– Oud, as a note, can be hit or miss for people. This is a nice blended example of the note, where it isn’t too heavy or too dominant in the mix.

Royal Oud actually starts off with a burst of bergamot and lime, which is joined by a light and warm pink pepper note, to keep things interesting. Early on, it is citrusy and has that nice spicy kick too it, but not overwhelming.

As it dries down, it becomes woodier. The oud is the main attraction, but there is also a nice cedar freshness in there. Musk and sandalwood round things out. Though, the latter isn’t too heavy in the mix.

To me, it kind of splits between the oud, musk, and cedar during the late stages. The sillage itself isn’t too heavy, but Royal Oud does have a good performance, while not blowing out the room. 

Very nice classy fragrance, that is more suited for formal or special occasions. I like this one, but for a lot of people, they consider Royal Oud to be Creed’s best.

Great Vetiver Fragrance

Creed Original Vetiver Men Millesime Spray, 4 Ounce – Creed Original Vetiver is a scent I overlooked on the first iteration of this list…my mistake. This is a hyper clean and masculine use of vetiver and citrus with a classic soapy quality.

I always feel energized after applying Original Vetiver, as the fragrance just seems to strike an upbeat and positive chord.

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

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

Top Woody Fragrance

CREED BOIS DU PORTUGAL by Creed EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 4 OZ – Bois du Portugal gets lost in the shuffle of Creed offerings, I feel. It does air on the side of being mature, somewhat old school, with a spicy masculine finish.

It opens up with bergamot and sandalwood, feels like a usual Creed fragrance, before it shifts into its own thing.

Bois du portugal is woody and warm, I love when the cedar and lavender come in to join the sandalwood. It’s clean while having an outdoorsy quality, to its aroma.

During the middle part of the wear, it can become difficult to distinguish between notes, as it has such a superior blend. Simple yet elegant.

Bois du Portugal goes from a citrus and sandalwood opening, to losing much of the citrus, and becoming a clean somewhat spicy woody fragrance. It definitely gives you something different, from most other popular scents, on the market. Bois du Portugal Full Review

bois du portugal

Best Classic Style Fragrance

Tabarome By Creed For Men. Millesime Spray 4.0 Oz.– Tabarome is another one that sort of sits under the radar. It opens up with ginger, which is one of my favorite light spices. Then, Tabarome further develops with jasmine, musk, and a greenish tobacco plant note.

The tobacco note actually is more like a growing tobacco plant, and less of what you would pack into a pipe before smoking. It’s a green note that is joined by the bergamot citrus, the ambergris, and a bit of sensuous leather.

The leather and tobacco finish is smooth, with a blend of spicy/sweet notes flanking everything. Ginger with tobacco and leather? Absolutely great. 

Ultimately, it’s all of that, some ambergris, on top of a sandalwood base. Read my full Tabarome Review

tabarome

Top Creed Cologne for Summer

Millesime Imperial By Creed For Men. Millesime Spray 4.0-Ounce Bottle– One of the more popular fragrances by Creed. Millesime Imperial is a blend of sea salt and melon-smelling (actually citrus) notes.

It’s an aquatic cologne that shines to life in the spring and summer months of the year.

It is juicy and luxurious. The melon aroma is produced by a lemon and mandarin orange combination and how they interact with the other notes within the composition.

It is very light and clean but grounded by the hint of musk and salty sea notes it unveils. If you enjoy a more oceanic type of fragrance, Imperial may be a great choice for your collection. This is one that I really like to wear on certain warmer days.

Imperial is a fruity marine fragrance, with a light musk, and some powdery undertones from an iris not. It’s not a sillage beast, but it will last for 7 or so hours, in the heat. That’s pretty impressive, when so many others, simply wilt.  My Review

imperial

Favorite Viking

Creed Viking Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.3 Ounce– Viking is the newest addition to this list. Why? I’ve always enjoyed the smell. However, it has grown on me more and more, since the first time that I tried it out in the Creed Boutique in Las Vegas.

It opens up, super crisp, with peppermint and sandalwood providing a cold woody infusion. There’s a very light bergamot note, briefly.

Creed Viking balances the warm and cold notes, as it introduces pink pepper, and then also vetiver. It’s woodsy and refreshing, with some earthiness and spice added in.

Lots of sandalwood, pink pepper, and peppermint. Blended well and the other notes, can be difficult to distinguish at times.

The longevity is good, I keep getting closer to 8 hours of wear from it. Again, this one is a cologne that I enjoyed, but didn’t love at first. It’s still not my favorite, but it has become much more favorable in my eyes, since I first tested it. Creed Viking Review