Fragrances

Comparing Santal 33 vs. Oud Wood

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Santal 33 from Le Labo and Oud Wood from Tom Ford are two very popular releases that people seem to have a tough time deciding between. I have never been a mega fan of either of these fragrances, but have tested each out repeatedly over the years.

So, today I am going to try and provide my own personal in depth takes while comparing these two perfumes, to see if I can help you get some clarity in this head to head matchup.

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

Santal 33 wins overall because it has better longevity, better versatility, wider appeal, and a stronger full-wear experience after the opening.

Oud Wood wins the opening and projection categories thanks to its stronger oud-cardamom-spice start and heavier peak, but it does not hold interest or performance as well over time.

Buy Santal 33 if you want the better daily/signature scent.

Buy Oud Wood if you mainly want the warmer, spicier, oud-heavy opening.

Category Santal 33 Oud Wood Winner
Opening Cardamom, dry woods, leather, violet, papyrus, and cedar without much spice Strong oud, cardamom, peppery spice, sandalwood, rosewood, and warm dry woods Oud Wood
Projection Moderate and more sustained on skin, then turns lighter Moderate but heavier, with a further reach at its peak Oud Wood
Longevity Around 7–8 hours Around 4–5 hours Santal 33
Versatility Works as a wider-use daily or signature scent outside the height of summer Better suited to autumn and winter, with narrower appeal Santal 33
Overall Scent Weaker start, but develops better into the heart and checks more boxes overall Nice spicy-woody opening, but becomes less interesting after that Santal 33
Best For Those who want better longevity, wider appeal, and daily wear flexibility Those who want the stronger spicy oud-wood opening —

Tale of the Tape: Santal 33 vs. Oud Wood

Santal 33

Notes include: sandalwood, violet, iris, amber, cardamom, leather, papyrus, cedar

Click here to try: Santal 33 on Amazon

Read my original review: Santal 33

Oud Wood

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

Click here to try: Oud Wood on Amazon

Read my original review: Oud Wood

Opening

Oud Wood starts off with a strong blast of the oud note and cardamom. Underneath that, is a peppery sort of spice. It’s warm and dry, with sandalwood and rosewood, already being prominent at the base. It’s a very spicy and woody, sort of aroma up top.

Santal also has the cardamom and dry woods. Just without the oud. It’s not remotely as spicy as Oud Wood is either. This notes are joined by leather and violet. Papyrus is a wood which distinguishes itself from the oud used in the Tom Ford scent.

Which is better? The opening act of Oud Wood is a great array of the various wood notes and spices. It’s not completely amazing, but it captures my attention.

I like the leather facets, the use of the papyrus in Santal. Though, even with that I feel the opening act is the weakest of the perfume.

Not a huge win, but I’ll give this category to Oud.

Edge: Oud Wood

Projection

Both of these are perfumes with a moderate sillage which then turn into lighter fragrances. I don’t think either is weak and both of them are detectable for most of their wear.

That being said, the Tom Ford perfume feels heavier and like it has a further reach at its peak. Yes, Santal 33 is more sustained on my skin, but I think Oud Wood is technically the stronger of the two.

Edge: Oud Wood

Longevity

Oud Wood has always been a strange one for me. Anytime that I’ve tried this fragrance out, I’ve gotten 4-5 hours of wear from it. The Intense version, lasted over 10 hours for me, however.

The Le Labo perfume will hit the 7-8 hour range, on my skin.

Neither of these is an absolute beast with their performance, but Santal 33 takes this category fairly easily in my experience.

Edge: Santal 33

Versatility

Seasonally, Oud Wood always struck me as being built more for the autumn and winter months. Santal can do that too, but it also extends well into springtime. Honestly, outside of the height of summer, I think the Le Labo works.

Both of these are unisex, of course. But, I think Santal has a wider range of use cases as a signature scent or a daily wear. Neither is a nightlife beast, but Santal also just has a wider appeal than you’re going to get with the oud based scent.

Edge: Santal 33

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these perfumes do I like more? I’d go with Santal versus Oud Wood. Which, I think that Oud Wood Intense was the better of the two anyway. Of course, it’s the one that got discontinued.

Oud Wood starts out nice, but never really interests me much beyond that. Sure, it has similar vibes at times to Santal, but I just think that the Le Labo smells better.

Santal has a weaker start. It’s never been bad to me, just kind of meh, who cares? Though, it really gets going as it transitions into the heart of the wear.

Along with the scent itself, Santal has better performance and will fit the style of a wider range of people. Plus, a more extensive use case. Santal checks more boxes and gets the win here.

Winner: Santal 33

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Santal 33 if:

You want the better overall fragrance in this comparison
You prefer sandalwood, violet, iris, amber, cardamom, leather, papyrus, and cedar
You want better longevity, around 7–8 hours
You need something with wider appeal as a daily or signature scent
You want a fragrance that improves more as it transitions into the heart

Choose Oud Wood if:

You want the better opening between the two
You prefer oud, cardamom, peppery spice, sandalwood, rosewood, vanilla, tonka, amber, and vetiver
You want something warmer, spicier, and woodier up top
You mainly wear fragrance in autumn and winter
You do not mind shorter longevity if you like the oud-heavy opening more

Santal 33 and Oud Wood FAQ

Does Santal 33 last longer than Oud Wood?

In my experience, yes. Oud Wood has never been a good performer for me anytime that I’ve tested it out. Personally, I only get 4-5 hours of wear from that Tom Ford perfume. Maybe you get more, but it’s no powerhouse.

Which one is better as a signature scent?

Personally, I think that the answer is Santal 33. Yes, it became such a massive hit, that it became commonplace. However, that’s probably receded quite a bit over the past five years, and it actually is a very nice perfume.

Are Santal 33 and Oud Wood similar?

These fragrances have a somewhat similar style in terms of the types of notes that each uses. But, they don’t particularly smell the same. Each is quite distinct if you test them out side by side.

L’Homme Ideal EDP vs L’Intense by Guerlain

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Continuing with some comparison posts here today, I thought that I’d do another one with two fragrances from the L’Homme Ideal line by Guerlain. One of which, L’Intense I tried for the first time over a month ago, when I blind bought a bottle that was on sale.

EDP, is one that I’m coming back to testing, after some time off. Which of these colognes smells better? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy?

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

L’Homme Ideal EDP wins on opening, longevity, and overall scent, while L’Homme Ideal L’Intense wins on versatility. Projection is basically a tie.

Buy Ideal EDP if you want the smoother cherry-almond-vanilla fragrance with better staying power and the stronger overall scent.

Buy L’Intense if you prefer more spice, smoke, leather, and a slightly more mature profile.

Category L’Homme Ideal EDP L’Homme Ideal L’Intense Winner
Opening Natural cherry, almond, slight spice, leather, vanilla, and smooth warmth Warm fresh leather, almond, cardamom, chili pepper, smoke, and toned-down sweetness EDP
Projection Moderate; above average early, then weaker later Moderate; can hit a slightly higher high but falls off quicker Push
Longevity Around 8–9.5 hours Usually around 7 hours, up to 8 EDP
Versatility Autumn/winter, nightlife, daytime, and office safe; sweeter profile Autumn/winter, nightlife, daytime, and office safe; more depth and maturity L’Intense
Overall Scent Smooth cherry, leather, almond, vanilla warmth, and refined sweetness Spicier, smokier almond-leather profile with chili, cardamom, and a solid dry down EDP
Best For Those who want the smoother, better-smelling, longer-lasting option Those who want the spicier, smokier, slightly more mature version —

Tale of the Tape: L’Homme Ideal L’Intense vs. EDP

Ideal EDP

Notes include: cherry, almond, lavender, vanilla, incense, rose, rosemary, leather, tonka bean, and more

Click here to try: L’Homme Ideal EDP at Selfridges (ships from UK)

L’Homme Ideal L’Intense

Notes include: tonka bean, chili pepper, almond, cardamom, vanilla, leather, and more

Click here to try: L’homme Ideal L’intense By Guerlain FOR MEN 3.4 oz Eau De Parfum Spray, black

Read my full review: L’Intense

Opening

Ideal EDP opens with its natural cherry and almond blend. The opening features a slight spiciness, but it is overall a very smooth and refined opening act. Leather, vanilla, and other warmer hints are coming through from the base.

L’Intense is actually very similar to how Ideal EDP opens, but with some variation. L’Intense has a warm and fresh profile, with leather letting itself be known from the start.

With that, you get spice from both cardamom and chili pepper, which is the main distinction from EDP. Though, there is also a sweetness here like its competitor, from the cardamom note and what I think is the unlisted cherry note (just toned way down).

Also, just a general smokiness, like incense from hints of sandalwood and almond.

Which is better? Obviously, it’s a pretty close call since there is so much overlap between them. But, I think that I prefer EDP’s smoothness more so than the spicy and smoky L’Intense.

Edge: EDP

Projection

Both of these fragrances are moderate with their sillage. I’d say each is above average early on, but then devolve into more of skin scents after a few hours.

I think that L’Intense actually might fall off a bit quicker, but hits a higher high in terms of how far its projects. There’s no real distinction in this category, in my experience.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Ideal L’Intense can go for up to 8 hours, on my skin. However, it’s usually around 7 and for the back half its at that weaker sillage level.

It’s got some pretty good performance, but nothing spectacular. Right about what you’d expect from this type of cologne. 

Ideal EDP is a longer lasting fragrance, with an 8-9.5 hour range of performance. It too, is a weaker skin scent for a good portion of the wear.

Nonetheless, it has the better longevity of the two. Not a massive gap, but noticeable.

Edge: EDP

Versatility

Both of these fragrances are built for the autumn and winter months. I think that they both have a good deal of versatility, as to what occasions that can be worn. Both are better for the nightlife, but are light enough to not be problems in the daytime, and are relatively office safe.

I do think that L’Intense has a bit more depth, refinement, and maturity than the sweeter EDP. L’Intense can be more appropriate for a man in his 30s, when he doesn’t want to go with a cherry/vanilla/almond focused EDP.

Not a huge distinction, but L’Intense takes this category.

Edge: L’Intense

 

Overall Scent

Overall, I really like both of these fragrances, but I don’t love either. I know the Ideal line has its fans that adore these scents, but for me they’re more of an occasional delight.

With L’Intense, I really wasn’t impressed with it the first few times I wore it. But, I’ve come to appreciate it more so. Early wears were particularly smoky, though, it now smells cleaner to my nose. 

My favorite part is actually the opening, with the chili and almond notes. That’s the high point and even then, I don’t enjoy it as much as EDP.

I think L’Intense is a solid cologne to have around, has strong points, and is easier to acquire here in the US (than EDP).  The dry down is fine, pretty standard, but isn’t as enjoyable to me as the first hour.

I’ve been wearing this Guerlain, but it isn’t something I need to have a bottle of.

With EDP, it’s just a better scent. I think it might be my second favorite now behind the discontinued Cologne, in the Ideal lineup. I’ve begun to appreciate it more than Extreme, which I’m wavering on, with my opinion of it.

I love the cherry, the leather smoothness, and the warm sweetness that the fragrance has…without venturing into ‘candy aroma’ territory. To me, Ideal EDP isn’t way better than L’Intense, but it does feel like its a cut above.

Winner: Ideal EDP

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose L’Homme Ideal EDP if:

You want the better overall scent
You prefer cherry, almond, vanilla, leather, tonka bean, and smooth sweetness
You want better longevity, around 8–9.5 hours
You like warm sweet fragrances that do not become too candy-like
You want the smoother and more refined opening between the two

Choose L’Homme Ideal L’Intense if:

You want something spicier and smokier
You prefer chili pepper, cardamom, almond, leather, tonka bean, and vanilla
You want a slightly more mature profile than the sweeter EDP
You like autumn/winter fragrances that can still work for daytime or office use
You want the version with more depth and a less cherry-focused style

Guerlain Ideal FAQ

Is L’Homme Ideal EDP worth buying over L’Intense?

Yes, I think that it is a better fragrance. I do own L’Intense, because I got a bottle for so cheap, and at the time you had to order Ideal EDP from other countries. But, the added cherry and the blend of Ideal EDP is really great, even if I like L’Intense also.

Which one has better performance overall?

Ideal eau de parfum has a slightly better performance. Again, it lasts a bit longer than does L’Intense. Though, how each projects is roughly the same. Not a huge difference in terms of performance.

Is L’Homme Ideal L’Intense smokier than EDP?

Yes, the leather and smokiness is one of the distinct aspects of L’Intense. Particularly, the leather, but it is also a smokier blend when compared with EDP.

 

 

Stronger With You Intensely vs. Absolutely

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Stronger With You is a series that keeps marching on for Emporio Armani. Among the two highly rated and sought after versions of this formulation are: Intensely and Absolutely. Each has some memorable aromas and comes with great performance.

However, the question is, which of these colognes is better? Which lasts longer? Which one should you buy? I’ve tested and reviewed each of these scents and will break down the competition below.

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

Stronger With You Intensely wins on opening, projection, and overall scent, while longevity and versatility are basically tied.

Buy Intensely if you want the sweeter, smoother toffee-vanilla-sueded scent with slightly better sillage and the stronger full-wear experience.

Buy Absolutely if you prefer the glazed chestnut middle act, rum, elemi, and a more resinous nutty profile.

Category Stronger With You Intensely Stronger With You Absolutely Winner
Opening Pink pepper, cinnamon, sage, toffee, caramel sweetness, and spice Bergamot, sweet fruity notes, rum, cinnamon, elemi, glazed chestnut, and resinous warmth Intensely
Projection A bit more powerful with slightly better reach and sillage Very good projection with room-crossing reach, then a 4–5 foot scent bubble Intensely
Longevity Excellent, around 11–12 hours Excellent, around 11–12 hours Push
Versatility Autumn/winter, nightlife, casual wear, and date nights Autumn/winter, nightlife, casual wear, and date nights Push
Overall Scent Sweeter, smoother toffee, vanilla, suede, spice, and lavender with the better full wear Great glazed chestnut middle act with cinnamon, rum, elemi, and later lavender Intensely
Best For Those who want the sweeter, smoother, better overall pick Those who want glazed chestnut, rum, and a nuttier profile —

Tale of the Tape: Stronger with You Absolutely vs. Intensely

Stronger With You Intensely

Notes include: pink pepper, cinnamon, toffee, lavender, sage, suede, amber, violet, vetiver

Click here to try: Intensely

My Full Review: Stronger with You Intensely

Stronger With You Absolutely

Notes include: glazed chestnut, rum, lavender, cedar, vanilla, elemi

My Full Review: Stronger with You Absolutely

Opening

The opening spray of Absolutely provides the short-lived citrus burst of bergamot and some other sweetish and fruity background notes, that I believe are apart of the initial lavender accord.

This is met with some spice and warmth. Not overly so, however. Arman’s description mentioned  pink pepper being here, I think that may be a part of this initial mix, since that is in Stronger Intensely as a note also.

But, this one also strikes me as being quite resinous from the get go. Elemi or the ‘glaze’ of the chestnut note is something that really sticks out after that top blast.

Notably, there is cinnamon in addition to the rum accord. Yes, there is some warm spiciness and booziness , but this is a lot smoother composition than a heavily spiced boozy rum note. It never really hits that level.

With Intensely, starts with its spiciness. Here, it is warmer and doesn’t last long (like the bergamot in Absolutely). The pink pepper is now the stronger note, joined by cinnamon and sage.

I get a sweet influence earlier with Intensely. The toffee accord with the cinnamon and caramel notes really gives Intensely a more dynamic feel. It is much less resinous and doesn’t have the same ‘glazed’ aroma as Absolutely.

Which do I prefer? I consistently have favored the opening of Intensely. Absolutely is nice, but I think once its chestnut note gets fully going, that’s when it is at its best. However, that’s not entirely in the opening act.

Intensely, gives me a better blend of sweetness and spice initially, and that’s what gives it the win in this category.

Edge: Intensely

Projection

The projection of Absolutely really good, able to reach well across a room. Then, it’ll become a 4-5 foot scent bubble, and finally a skin scent. Not the heaviest or most beast mode projection out there, but I wasn’t disappointed.

Intensely, is a bit more powerful than that. Now, it isn’t completely overwhelming either.

However, I do notice it further away from Absolutely, when I tested each on clothing and walked to the other side of the living room.

Not a convincing win, but Intensely does have the edge. It’s not going to be the reason I’d buy one versus the other, however.

Edge: Intensely

Longevity

The longevity of both of these scents are really great, on my skin. But, there’s also no distinction between them, and they perform equally.

Both Intensely and Absolutely, outperform the original EDT. Total longevity is 11-12 hours, which is great for this sort of mainstream fragrance.

No winner here, just awesome performers.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Another category in which they are equals. Autumn and winter wears. A bit more mature than the original EDT, but still suitable for younger men as well.

Each is great for the nightlife, casual, or date night. Neither is something that’s completely formal or going to be an office scent for most folks.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, this is a pretty evenly matched competition. I enjoy both of these fragrances and they are among my favorites from the Stronger with You lineup.

But, which is the cologne that I actually prefer to wear?

With Absolutely, the opening is enjoyable, but I really like the glazed chestnut middle act that it provides. It’s one of the nuttier versions in this line and that core ingredient is really done well with Absolutely.

The cinnamon, rum, and elemi all give it further depth but is mostly limited to the opening. The dry down, though, comes on stronger with lavender.

It’s not terrible, but Absolutely really starts to lose a lot of its distinction from the rest of the series and the lavender doesn’t do much to boost it.

Even at that early stage, which with the heart of the fragrance is my favorite part of SWY Absolutely; it doesn’t hit the same level for me, as does Intensely.

With Intensely, I love the toffee, vanilla, and suede with periods of spice and lavender. Great, just without the same chestnut note, but also the vanilla reminds me of the EDT (just blended way better)

It’s sweeter, smoother, and gives me slightly more sillage than Absolutely. So, it’s my pick in this contest. I enjoy it from start to finish, even with Absolutely’s enjoyable middle act.

I would select it over Absolutely, unless you can find Absolutely for significantly cheaper for some reason. Maybe if you’re a bigger lavender fan, you might also want to go with Stronger With You Absolutely.

Winner: Intensely

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Stronger With You Intensely if:

You want the better overall fragrance in this comparison
You prefer toffee, vanilla, suede, cinnamon, pink pepper, and amber
You want the stronger opening blend of sweetness and spice
You care about slightly better sillage and projection
You want the version that stays enjoyable from start to finish

Choose Stronger With You Absolutely if:

You prefer glazed chestnut, rum, elemi, cedar, vanilla, and lavender
You like a nuttier, more resinous Stronger With You style
You want excellent 11–12 hour longevity
You enjoy the middle act more than the opening
You can find it significantly cheaper or prefer lavender-heavy dry downs

Stronger with You FAQ

What is the best Stronger with You fragrance?

What I consider to be the ‘best’ of this line or maybe just my favorites are: Intensely, Leather, Absolutely, and the original EDT. I haven’t tried every single edition as of yet, but here’s my list and rankings: Best SWY Colognes.

Does Stronger With You Absolutely project more than Intensely?

No, not in my testing of it. There isn’t a huge gap between them, but Intensely does have the edge in terms of its strength.

Are Intensely and Absolutely very similar?

They are quite similar, but still different enough. To me, the main difference is the stronger use of the chestnut note in Absolutely. The rum note also distinguishes it, though that isn’t super strong in the mix.

9 Best Smelling Axe Body Spray Fragrances

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Axe has been a popular brand of cheaply priced fragrances for decades now. I used to wear different body spray scents in high school, will still use the body washes and the deodorants, to this day. They’ve come out with seemingly endless scents under different names, but what are the best smelling Axe Body Spray scents for guys?

Quick Overview

🏆 Quick Overview: Top Picks

Best Overall — Kilo

Kilo is the best overall Axe pick because it has the most balanced profile of these scents and smells great. It is fresh, slightly spicy, sweet, smooth, calming, and masculine without becoming overly fruity or too sweet.

It also has the strongest nostalgia factor, since it was one of the standout Axe scents from the brand’s earlier era.

Best Newer Release — Golden Mango

Golden Mango is the best newish Axe release from the Fine Fragrance Collection. It blends mango, mandarin orange, and vetiver for a juicy tropical scent that still has a fresh woodsy backbone.

It feels more polished than a typical sweet body spray and has the best balance among the newer Axe scents that I’ve tried.

Best Sweet Scent — Dark Temptation

Dark Temptation is the best sweet/gourmand option if you want something warm, creamy, and compliment-friendly. The chocolate note gives it a delicious sweetness, while the vanilla undertone keeps it smooth.

It is one of the most memorable Axe scents because it feels more dessert-like and attention-grabbing than the cleaner fresh options.

Fragrance Best For Scent Profile Key Notes Vibe
Kilo Best overall Axe fragrance Fresh, slightly spicy, sweet, smooth Vanilla, light citrus, mint, possibly lavender Classic, masculine, balanced
Golden Mango Best new Axe release Juicy tropical fruit with fresh woods Mango, mandarin orange, vetiver Fresh, tropical, modern
Dark Temptation Top sweet/gourmand scent Warm creamy chocolate with vanilla sweetness Chocolate, vanilla undertone Sweet, delicious, compliment-friendly
Black Vanilla Alternative to Dark Temptation Smooth citrus-vanilla with sandalwood Black vanilla, sandalwood, orange essential oil Sweet, smooth, powerful
Aqua Bergamot Fresh aquatic body wash style Fresh aquatic citrus with herbal-green freshness Bergamot, sage, juniper Clean, energetic, blue-ish
Anarchy Best fruity warm-weather spray Masculine tropical fruit with amber and woods Amber, sandalwood, coconut, bergamot, fruit notes Youthful, smooth, tropical
Gold Fresh Iced Mint & Leather Top fresh Axe deodorant Crisp cold mint with smooth leather Iced mint, leather Clean, understated, cool-weather fresh
Excite Energetic cold-weather scent Sweet gourmand with nutty caramel warmth Coconut, hazelnut, caramel, woody base Warm, easy, cocoa-butter sweet
Gold Citron Great citron release Bright citrus with clean white woods Citrus blend, white woods Zesty, low-key, clean

Favorite Axe Body Sprays or Deodorant Scents

Best Overall Axe Fragrance

AXE Body Spray for Men, Kilo 4 oz (Pack of 6)– This is what I wore back in 10-11th grade. Kilo was utterly great, and got me complimented like crazy, from girls when I wore it.

Axe was popular back then, but there didn’t seem to be many guys around, that were wearing this particular scent…but it was my favorite, at the time. It was fresh, slightly spicy, and sweet.

As I recall, Kilo had a vanilla, light citrus, mint, and possibly lavender lineup of ingredients. It had an aromatic sort of freshness, with enough spice to give the spray and edge. I never see this one in stores locally anymore, but you can get it online still.

Kilo was like the perfect balance, out of the Axe collection of fragrances. Very smooth and calming, while still being masculine. Not overly fruity or sweet. Classic and still one of the best body sprays ever.

Best New Axe Release

Golden Mango– Axe has released some newer scents recently, under their ‘Fine Fragrances Collection’ banner. Golden Mango is my favorite of them, so far.

Mango, mandarin orange, and vetiver adding some fresh woodsy aroma to the mix. It’s actually got a good balance between the orange and mango notes, more of a juicy/tropical kind of aroma, than just generic sweetness.

The Fine Fragrance releases are supposed to last longer than the regular Axe scents. It seems to be the case, at least with the body wash. Body washes aren’t going to be perfume level performance, but it’s very good for the price.

Also, these higher-end and improved Axe scents use natural essential oils. So, here it is mandarin orange and vetiver oils.

top axe body wash

Top Sweet/Gourmand Scent

Axe Body Spray Dark Temptation– Warm and sweet, creamy chocolate with a vanilla undertone. Dark Temptation is delicious and this was one of the anti-perspirants that I wore, once I grew out of the body sprays.

Girls have always seemed to respond really well to this, the chocolate note just breeds complements. I used this deodorant a lot a number of years ago. I think that the body spray or the gel deodorant is better than the white stick deodorant.

Interestingly, if you want a cologne The Dua Brand now has their ‘inspired by’ take, available as a fragrance called: Temptation of the Dark.

The latter, seems to have more of a sweet powdery aroma, versus the other options.

I haven’t been seeing the gel deodorant around, but that was my favorite option. The white stick, could feel too sweet, at times. The body spray was on point, however. A potential alternative, could be Gold Temptation.

An Alternative to Dark Temptation

Black Vanilla– Black Vanilla is another newer one that I like from Axe. This one gives you a different type of sweet gourmand than that of the chocolatey Dark Temptation.

Here, it is less of the sweetness but the vanilla is surprisingly good, and the scent itself is pretty powerful for a body spray. The black vanilla is joined by sandalwood and orange essential oil.

A good mix of citrus and vanilla, giving it a smoother profile than the fragrance listed above. It’s still not my favorite of the newer releases, but it’s easy to see why Black Vanilla has become popular for an Axe spray.

Fresh Aquatic

Aqua Bergamot– This is another entry from the Fine Fragrance Collection. Aqua Bergamot is the second one that I enjoy, behind Golden Mango.

Aqua is a fresh, energetic, and somewhat aquatic blend. The citrus note here is bergamot and is not nearly as potent as those fruits in Mango.

This gets is freshness from a blend of sage and juniper. A bit of that sour bergamot, more juniper coming through for me versus the sage.

The style is a very classic ‘blue-ish’ sort of body wash. Basically, what most people think of with body wash. I don’t think I’d use the body spray, as my main go to, but I like the scent for taking showers.

Best Fruity/Warm Weather Spray

AXE Deodorant Body Spray Anarchy 150 Ml / 5.07 Oz (Pack of 6)– With notes of amber, sandalwood, and fruits (I pick up coconut and bergamot), Anarchy has a rich and smooth profile, much like Dark Temptation. It smells great while maintaining a fresh, youthful vibe.

Anarchy is a masculine tropical fragrance. It is youthful and does have the sharper bergamot note, at the start, but settles down into a delightful aroma. The amber is a great addition.

The fruit notes, give the top and opening creaminess, and light sharpness from citrus. There might actually be some other types of fruit in there, that’s too difficult to discern.

Nonetheless, the amber warmth, and woody base really does a great job at tying it all together. My Review of Anarchy

Top Fresh Axe Deodorant

Axe Gold Fresh Iced Mint & Leather– This is actually my current anti-perspirant deodorant, that I use each day (Update: was back in 2018 or so, don’t see it for sale much anymore).

A lot of people don’t seem to like the body sprays from Axe (or at least its associations with high school kids) and while I don’t wear those anymore, the deodorant sticks are great. They last all day and don’t quit.

Axe Gold Fresh is a crisp and cold mint with a smooth and rich leather aroma. I love it. It’s a relatively simple pairing, but one that doesn’t seem to happen often. Gold Fresh is an understated and clean option, that really shines, when the temperature drops.

There’s also another Gold Fresh option which pairs oud and leather. It’s more of a dry woodsy take, on this formula. I wore that one, for a while also, and prefer it in some ways.

 

Energetic Cold Weather Scent

Axe EXCITE Body Spray & Deodorant. 48 HOUR ODOR PROTECTION! Energized & Fresh! (6 Cans, 5oz each Can)– Axe Excite relies on coconut, hazelnut, and caramel to create a sweet gourmand fragrance with a woody base.

It’s sweetness has a cocoa butter vibe, in my mind. I like it and will use this body wash, when I can grab a bottle on sale.

Excite and Anarchy share that coconut ingredient. However, Anarchy is the fruitier fragrance of the two, with a lighter aroma. Anarchy feels more suited towards warmer weather, than Excite.

This one seems more appropriate in the colder months of the year. The coconut doesn’t make it too tropical versus the nutty and caramel notes. This one is really easy to wear,  as it isn’t too in your face or spicy. Axe Excite Review

Great Citron Release

Axe Gold Citron– This one isn’t super complicated, but it’s a very nice new release from the brand.

A citrus blend with white woods that is fresh and quite bright. Gold Citron does what so many popular men’s fragrances do, by pairing that chilled citrus aroma along with a woody base.

It’s a nice wear for the summer months and isn’t as ‘in your face’ as many others from the Axe line of scents.

Attractive, low-key, but one that is a great experience for those who want a zesty and clean fragrance throughout the day.

Axe Body Spray and Wash FAQ

Is Axe Dark Temptation a good scent?

Is a sweet and warm scent. The chocolate aroma does have a thickness to it and that sort of sugary appeal, without going too far into that territory. Nice powdery finish to it. I enjoyed wearing this when I was younger. Do you want to smell like chocolate? It’s a good scent for those who enjoy that.

Which Axe scent is best for teenagers?

All of them. That’s the main demographic of this brand. My picks for the best are all listed above.

How many sprays of Axe body spray should you use?

You probably don’t need more than 2-3, in most situations. Especially, if you’re inside in an enclosed area with other people all day. Axe projects more than you think it does and you don’t really have to overdo it.

Can Axe body spray replace cologne?

For teenagers, sure. There is a big difference in quality between most fragrances and a can of Axe Body Spray. Not just in terms of how each smells, the depth, how it develops, and the performance that you get from each. Axe is a very inexpensive solution to smelling better, but at some point, you’ll want to graduate to something of higher quality.

Cool Water vs. Drakkar Noir Cologne Comparison

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In today’s cologne comparison, I’m going to take things back to the 1980s for a face off between two scents, which were powerhouses then and continue to be best sellers into the present time. In one corner, we have Cool Water by Davidoff. In the other, Guy Laroche’s Drakkar Noir. Which one of these colognes smells better? Which has the better performance?

Quick Overview

🏆 My Verdict

Cool Water wins on opening, versatility, and overall scent, while Drakkar Noir wins on projection and longevity.

Buy Cool Water if you want the fresher, cleaner, more versatile aquatic fragrance that works easily for daily wear and warm weather. You might also try the ‘inspired by’ the vintage formula alternative from Dua, called: His Dua Water

Buy Drakkar Noir if you prefer a darker, sharper fougère with stronger projection, longer wear, and more of that classic 80s masculine edge. You might also try an alternative: Black Viking Ship

Category Cool Water Drakkar Noir Winner
Opening Fresh mint, lavender, green notes, seawater freshness, and clean citrus energy Lavender, rosemary, bergamot, lemon, spice, and a darker fougère sharpness Cool Water
Projection Moderate and cleaner off the skin Stronger projection with a heavier masculine presence Drakkar Noir
Longevity Around 5–6 hours Usually 6–8 hours depending on skin Drakkar Noir
Versatility Excellent for spring/summer, office, gym, and casual daily wear Better for cooler weather, evenings, and stronger masculine styling Cool Water
Overall Scent Cleaner aquatic freshness with easier modern wearability Sharper classic fougère with darker old-school masculine character Cool Water
Best For Those who want fresher daily versatility Those who want stronger classic masculine performance —

Tale of the Tape: Drakkar vs. Cool Water

Drakkar Noir

Notes included: sandalwood, lavender, citrus, cinnamon, leather, vetiver, oakmoss, cedar, fir

Click here to try: Drakkar Noir By Guy Laroche For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 6.7 Ounces

My original review: Drakkar Noir Review

Cool Water

Notes include: lavender, mint, tobacco, amber, musk, jasmine, sandalwood, neroli, coriander, rosemary, and more

Click here to try: Davidoff Cool Water Edt Spray for Men, 6.7 oz

My Original Review: Cool Water

Opening

With Drakkar Noir, the opening part of the wear gives me a very dry and smooth aroma. I particularly get the oak moss and lavender notes, which bring about that creamy/soapy vibe, and then there is the slight warm spice of cinnamon.

Cool Water is more oceanic. It also has a soapy lavender feel but with a crisp and cool mint note. It’s quite sharp to my nose at the start, but gradually settles into a fragrance with more amber smoothness.

Underneath is the greenish qualities, a good deal of uncured tobacco.

The opening of Cool Water is the most interesting part of the fragrance, to me. Plenty of tobacco and mint, with that underlying aquatic feel. Yes, it can seem somewhat sharp, but it comes across a different from many more modern fragrances.

Between the two, I think I enjoy the opening of Cool Water better. Yes, it’s more in your face than is Drakkar but the oceanic touch to the lavender, just seems more interesting to me.

Edge: Cool Water

Projection

Cool Water starts off with stronger sillage. However, as things move along Drakkar is more consistent over the course of the wear.

Neither of these scents is an absolute beast in terms of sillage. Both more towards the upper moderate end of the spectrum. There’s not really a clear winner.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Drakkar is good but not great. I’ve usually gotten 6-7 hours out of it. Meanwhile, Cool Water will deliver 8+ hours.

This is one of those aspects of these fragrances that can be effected by the reformulations. So, just judging by the bottles, I’ve recently sprayed from this is the conclusion I’ve drawn. The vintage bottles may be a different story.

I’m sure that the vintage formulas of each, had better performance. I do know that Drakkar had some natural ingredients in the past, that aren’t allowed to be used anymore. So, that effects the entire structure and performance of a scent.

Edge: Cool Water

Versatility

Drakkar is dry and for the colder months of the year. While Cool Water, performs great during the summertime.

Both have the same applications basically. They can be worn casually, at work, or for a night on the town. Neither is a club type of cologne.

Drakkar Noir strikes me as more mature as a scent. Cool Water seems more youthful and closer to an inexpensive version of Green Irish Tweed. I’m tempted to give Cool Water the edge, as it seems more universally like, but there’s not too much difference here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Man, this is tougher than I thought that it would be to decide a winner. I’m not a huge fan of either one of these fragrances for my own personal style and tastes, but I do think that they’re both solid choices.

I like to dark and dry spice that Drakkar Noir offers and I think that it gets better during the dry down, when more leather begins to emerge.

With Cool Water, it’s like a more oceanic/summery Green Irish Tweed. I like the crispness of the mint and how it shifts into a more amber-laden cologne after an hour or so. Plus, Cool Water has the better longevity on my skin, and I enjoy the upbeat summery vibe.

With that in mind, I’m going to give the nod to Cool Water. I also think that it has more of a universal application than does Drakkar Noir. More guys will probably like the Davidoff scent and it will cover a wider range of styles than the Drakkar.

Maybe the original vintage bottles would have yielded a different result, but I think Cool Water checks more boxes currently. Note: here are alternative options to each, that are cheaper and should give better performance: His Dua Water and Black Viking Ship

Winner: Cool Water

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Cool Water if:

You want the better overall everyday fragrance
You prefer fresh aquatic scents with mint, lavender, green notes, and seawater freshness
You need something easy for office wear, gym use, or warm-weather daily wear
You want the more versatile and modern-smelling option
You prefer freshness over darker fougère sharpness

Choose Drakkar Noir if:

You want stronger projection and better longevity
You prefer lavender, rosemary, bergamot, spice, woods, and a classic fougère profile
You like darker, sharper, old-school masculine fragrances
You mainly wear fragrance in cooler weather or evenings
You want more boldness and vintage masculine character