Fragrances

8 Best Smelling Carolina Herrera Colognes for Men

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Carolina Herrera makes some fantastic scents for both men and women. While these fragrances are pretty popular, the men’s scents haven’t been overused and too common like something such as Acqua Di Gio or 1 Million.

Herrera has a whole line of colognes which are both unique and smell really good. Plus, they aren’t terribly expensive, probably in the upper moderate price range.

For this list, I have selected 8 scents which I feel are the best of the lot. I have update the list, to expand upon things a bit, and to revamp this page. I will add any additional scents from this designer that I find, as I see fit.

Favorite Carolina Herrera Fragrances for Men

Best Overall Herrera Perfume for Him

Carolina Herrera CH Eau De Toilette Spray – 100ml/3.4oz,(Packaging may vary)– This might be the best of the bunch, depending on one’s tastes. It features notes of grapefruit, bergamot, nutmeg, jasmine, violet, leather, and amber.

It is a sweet sugary scent with a leather note and vanilla, which gives it an extra smoothness. The dry down is very nice. It can be a bit too strong for my nose, at the start, but it settles down quite well.

The sugary element dissipates somewhat and CH Men becomes more dominated by the leather, woods, and light spices.

Again, the sugar is my least favorite part of CH Men, but even that isn’t ever a completely unpleasant experience. When it hits the right blended amount with the leather, it becomes fantastic.

ch

To the Extreme

Bad Boy Extreme– This edition is now my favorite of the Bad Boy line. EDT and Cobalt are next and basically neck and neck for me.

Bad Boy Extreme starts off with a blast of ginger and cacao. You will get the similarities from others in the series, but this one just does everything better.

Sage and plum are underneath those two lead notes in the opening act. Not too massive but a nice touch.

It becomes sweeter with tonka bean and the cacao in the dry down. However, you will still have woody and fresher notes like vetiver, sage, patchouli, and ginger throughout.

Also, the performance is much better than you get with EDT. As of now, this is the Bad Boy cologne to buy.

Top Nightlife Pick

212 Vip by Carolina Herrera Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– I’ve had to update the list to include this gem. 212 VIP is a fantastic cologne for the colder months of the year, especially the nightlife.

It’s got notes of vodka, amber, lime caviar, mint, pepper, and ginger among others.

This one isn’t for everyone and has a limited use, basically just nights out, but is a monster in terms of sillage and length of performance. It opens with that smooth vodka and tonka bean, paired with the spice of black pepper.

From there, 212 VIP, you get sweet vanilla, amber, the tonka bean, and ginger (which lightens the spice provided by pepper). There is also a dash of lime, apple, and mint which aids the feeling of it being a boozy mixed drink.

This one is quite alcoholic in its presentation, again not everyone will dig it, but is a really great example of that type of scent. I love wearing this, on the right evening. Read my full review.

212 VIP Herrera

Most Under the Radar

Chic By Carolina Herrera For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces– A sweet fragrance which is highlighted by lemon and melon notes (at the top), as well as, cinnamon which gives it a bit more body. Chic is a beautiful cologne that isn’t too heavy but it quite seductive.

After its initial citrus and melon combo, the warmer notes begin to take over. The cinnamon is paired with black pepper, which is joined by amber, tonka bean, cardamom, and sandalwood.

The final stages are about the watermelon, warm spice, and the fresh woody base. This is still an underrated fragrance.

Chic isn’t too complicated, but does give a you a rather unique and versatile experience. It can be worn in summer or winter. Though, I’d say it’s better in warmer climates.

chic

Most Popular Cologne

212 By Carolina Herrera For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces– A fresh and borderline unisex fragrance with notes of mandarin, grapefruit, woods, and sandalwood. The greener notes in here really shine and it has a bit of spice to it, up front.

Later, it becomes spicier with a greenish herbal quality, and the citrus top notes act as a counterbalance. Good in warm weather. 212 is still fresh with elements of sweetness, coming in and out, of the composition.

The grapefruit is really well done here and much more enjoyable than in other similar colognes.

This has undergone reformulations, so, I’m unsure of how the current bottles perform. It at least, used to be pretty good, in that regard. My 212 Full Review

212

Classic Style Fragrance

CAROLINA HERRERA Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 6.75 Ounce– The namesake of the fragrance line, Herrera is a blend of tobacco, citrus, amber, and musk notes. The tobacco gives it a warm masculine scent which is highlighted by a spicy undertone.

This is a long lasting and well-projecting cologne for guys who like something that is refined and manly. The tobacco doesn’t seem as green and uncured as in something like Versace Dreamer.

Yet, you do get a good blend of the semi-sweet tobacco, with herbal spice, and some nice citrus touches.

Note: I am referring to the original formulation, this is another one, I’ll have to revisit. I hear, it is quite different now.

herrera

Great for Cold Weather

212 Sexy by Carolina Herrera For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4-Ounces– A smooth and seductive scent from Carolina Herrera. 212 Sexy is a cologne that has a fantastic vanilla note that is fresh and sweet and somewhat similar to Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier.

However, it is woodier than, the JPG fragrance and not as sweet. It’s a softer cologne, with a nice powdered sandalwood dry down, which sits underneath that vanilla lead. Very easy to wear and attractive.

There is also less of a lavender influence in this one, with a great use of other floral notes. Not as much of a powdery cologne, but 212 Sexy is a great example of a very wearable and appealing vanilla scent.  Awesome sweetness.

212s

The First Bad Boy

Carolina Herrera Bad Boy EDT Eau de Toilette 3.4oz / 100ml For Men, Black– It’s actually a close call between the original Bad Boy and the newer Le Parfum, as to which is the better scent.

Update: Add Cobalt to the mix. For me, they’re almost interchangeable, but I think that I still prefer the original versus the newer flankers.

Le Parfum is interesting and has a better performance, but I like what the original has to offer. It can be sweet and somewhat creamy, while also coming across at times like a peppery honeycomb.

The cocoa and tonka bean notes, really lend to the warm and sexy sweetness of this fragrance. Bad Boy has a solid performance and lasts for 7 hours, on my skin. Bad Boy Review

7 Best Smelling Guerlain Fragrances for Men

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Guerlain is a French perfumer which has been around for centuries now. With such a long time to develop scents, it is no wonder why there is a whole line of colognes for men available that smell great and provide a unique style.

I have now updated this list, some seven years after originally posting. I have included two additional entries, which I feel are very worthwhile to be included. I have linked each option out to its page on Amazon, for further info or purchase.

Favorite Guerlain Colognes for Men

Cocoa Spiced Guerlain

L’instant De Guerlain By Guerlain For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 4.2 Ounces
An elegant and masculine fragrance and probably my favorite scent by Guerlain. L’Instant is a very pleasing and unique cologne for men which stands out even while being subtle.

It opens with a great citrus blend and some spicy anise, then, it has its jasmine and patchouli moments, before the cacao moves in.

There is the EDT version and the EDP version. The EDT is my favorite and described above. However, some folks like the EDP more (featured later on this list), and it is a very good fragrance. The EDP is a bit spicier and has a winter profile, being warm and more enveloping.

Super smooth and classy. Has a very unique vibe versus most men’s fragrances of today and will draw complements.

Notes include: Bergamot, Lemon, Pepper, Hibiscus Seeds, Badian Crystals, Patchouli, Indian Jasmine Petal, Elemi, Lapsang Tea, Bitter Cocoa Bean, Mysore Sandalwood.

Classic Guerlain

Imperiale Guerlain By Guerlain Eau De Cologne Spray 3.4 Oz
This cologne has been around for well over a hundred and fifty years because it is such a performer. It’s a crisp and clean unisex floral scent that is a great casual wear.

The citrus notes do permeate, this fragrance, but the neroli and verbena notes really bring things home.

Imperiale has a sort of carbonated fizziness lurking underneath, with a cooling refreshing feeling, that is great for the warmer months. This is a pretty light scent, without crazy performance, but it smells absolutely wonderful.

imperiale

Vetiver Fragrance

Vetiver Guerlain by Guerlain for Men – 6.8 oz EDT Spray
Another classic fragrance by Guerlain, Vetiver is a woodsy and spicy scent that won’t make those around you feel overwhelmed by its strength. This is a really ‘manly’ throwback sort of a scent.

An affordable classic with citrus, tobacco, and nutmeg notes to help round out the vetiver dominance. A really good entry for those looking to get into vetiver scents.

Guerlain’s Vetiver opens with a blend of spice, citrus, and some tobacco. To my nose, the tobacco isn’t too powerful, and I actually get a stronger citrus vibe. However, that will quickly morph into a dry and earthy wear, led by the namesake note.

vetiver

Rouge Remix

Habit Rouge Rouge Prive– This is a modern take on the Habit Rouge formula and one that deserves a spot on this updated list.

Rouge Prive opens with a large dose of bergamot citrus, joined by ginger, some patchouli, and the leather note already making itself known at the start.

Mostly, this is going to be about the citrus and leather accord, for the duration. But, in between you get some warmth in the early stage, powdery aspects from iris/vanilla, and a very smooth leathery finish when that note overcomes the bergamot.

Great strength and performance. Definitely a fragrance for those who want a great leather cologne, that still pays homage to the older Habit Rouge formula. Rouge Prive Review

Best Wintertime Guerlain Cologne

Guerlain L’Instant de Guerlain Extreme Eau De Parfum Spray – 75ml/2.5oz– L’Instant Extreme has less of the citrus notes of the original (still present in the opening) and more of a spicy profile, which later develops its dark cacao sweetness.

It can be really difficult to choose between this and the original, as they are both utterly amazing. This one is darker, with more patchouli, and less of the bright citrus disposition. Still, it is a really great scent, in its own right without comparison.

I think that Guerlain has once again, discontinued L’Instant Extreme. I know that you can still get bottles of the EDT, but this one might be more expensive to get a hold of.

Best Guerlain for Summer

L’Homme Ideal Platine Prive by Guerlain- I’ve had to swap out the old Ideal Cologne, that was discontinued for the newer Platine Prive. Which, is very close to being the same thing, with some slight changes.

I’m so glad they brought back this formula, as it was my favorite of the series. Platine Prive isn’t dead on the same, but lets say 85-90ish percent there.

Ideal Cologne opened with a citrus blast of notes from grapefruit to bergamot. It’s a summery scent, that includes a great almond ingredient as well as, vetiver.

Note: If you can’t find this one, Dua has their inspired take on the formula called, His Ideal Cologne.

Platine Prive is the same basically, during my testing. I think the almond here is less involved than with Cologne and the citrus feels cleaner and a bit more impactful.

It is clean and cool and lasted on my skin for 8 hours, back when I tested it out. This is the best of the L’Homme Ideal fragrances, in my opinion.

I enjoy almond as a note, but it usually gets paired in more of a wintertime blend. The summer feel of this is fantastic.  (discontinued one): L’Homme Ideal Cologne Review

The Next Best Ideal

L’Homme Ideal EDP at Selfridges (ships from UK)– Ideal EDP is now my second favorite from the line, but it is also the one more available versus the discontinued Cologne. 

I came back to testing this one out and started to really prefer wearing it versus the also popular, Extreme. So, I’m replacing it on the list.

Cherry and almond are the centers of attention early on. It is attractive, warm, sweet, and has enough spiciness to liven it up.

The leather note is present, but not as much as in L’Intense (or the smokiness). It’s not sugary sweet or overwhelming with its sillage, just a nice balance.

It is pretty difficult to get in the US, since it is no longer for sale in stores here. I’ve linked to a UK store that will ship to the US and it’s really the best bet for getting EDP nowadays. Ideal EDP Review

10 Best Smelling Versace Colognes for Men

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Versace fragrances are known for being stylish, masculine, and unique. Not too many design houses have a roster of fragrances that are this deep and deliver the goods each time.

Versace has plenty to offer men of different tastes and while it isn’t an inexpensive brand, it isn’t obscenely expensive for most people.

For this list, I have selected 7 fragrances from Versace which I feel are the best. I have also added a few honorable mentions. Check out: Best Smelling Versace Perfumes for Women

Favorite Versace Perfumes for Him

Tobacco Floral 90s Classic

DREAMER by Versace Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 oz– Not an overpowering fragrance but one that is highly memorable and sexy. It is sweet with enough spice to reel in the ladies and having them ask what it is you are wearing? Notes include: wild flowers, linen, amber and tobacco.

Update: They’ve reformulated and re-released this one. So, the notes and aroma are fairly different from this older version now.

Dreamer dates back to the mid-1990s and as such is now available at a great price. It opens up with a very fresh and smooth green tobacco note.

It’s uncured and more floral than the heavier pipe tobacco found in many other fragrances. This is paired with lavender to give it a floral and powdery heart.

However, its base is woody, herbal, and masculine. It’s dry with notes of fir and cedar. Then, an herbal spice of sage. Dreamer is a low key fragrance that is good for daily wear and is safe for the office. Dreamer Full Review

Pros

  • Clean and versatile fragrance
  • Inexpensive
  • Not overly powerful

Cons

  •  May be to green/floral for some men’s tastes.

Best Selling Versace

Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce– A deep and energetic cologne that projects an air of confidence and sensuality. Eros is the God of Love and this one is great for romantic wear. Notes include: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver.

This is now probably the most popular Versace cologne, since its release in 2012. It has now spawned a flanker called Eros Flame, which has now been released. Anyway, the original Versace Eros is bold and striking.

It opens with mint, apple, citrus, and vanilla. It’s got gourmand qualities, slight spice, and a cedar/woodsy base.

Eros is my favorite from the Versace lineup, I’d have to say. despite its extreme popularity, I still enjoy wearing this fragrance on a regular basis. Read my full review of Eros. 

Note: The EDP version and the current version of the EDT rank about the same to me. The EDP has a better opening act, in my mind, however. 

Pros

  • Sweet and bold profile
  • Great option for younger men
  • Performance

Cons

  •  Not great in warmer weather
  •  Can be too strong for office wear or school

The Other Eros

Versace Eros Parfum– Eros Parfum is the latest edition in the series, but is better than both the EDP and Flame, to my mind.

Eros Parfum obviously has plenty of overlap with the EDT and EDP. But, it does stand alone in how it presents itself.

Noticeably, the lemon note is toned down versus the original. Initially, the citrus is quite present, but it will fade.

You still get the lemon, apple, and mint notes but the weighting is different. Mint probably takes the biggest hit in the Parfum version. It does have a slight fresh spiciness early on from black pepper and sage, not too much.

The dry down goes vanilla, woods, benzoin and amber with the remaining fruity notes hanging around. Resinous and creamy to some extent. Nice strong sillage and will last a long while. Eros Parfum review

Dry, Rich, and Spicy

Versace Man by Versace 3.4oz 100ml EDT Spray– Versace Man is all about masculinity. It is rich and complex with spicy notes that deliver a beautiful aroma. The tobacco note leads the way and is a cured sort of tobacco aroma as opposed to the aforementioned Dreamer.

There is also pepper and cardamom giving Man a spice. Then, things shift a bit more towards a warmer floral blend of amber and saffron.

The end result is a refined, dry, and richly appointed fragrance which has good sillage and will last on one’s skin for quite a while. Update: This has been discontinued as of 2018, but you can still grab bottles online. 

Pros

  • Masculine and refined
  • Appropriate for in their late 20s and up

Cons

  • Getting harder to find bottles

versace man

Best Summertime Versace

Versace Man Eau Fraiche By Gianni Versace For Men Edt Spray 3.4 Oz– Eau Fraiche is a cleaner citrus take on the original Versace Man. This one is more of a springtime or summer scent for gentleman.

Eau Fraiche opens up with a crisp, cold, and refreshing lemon note and starfruit. It’s got an icy quality to it at first, which is really interesting, and great to spray on during the summer heat.

Then, Versace Man Eau Fraiche, warms up a bit. It becomes much woodier than just a straight citrus bomb and I think that’s when the fragrance really comes into its own. It’s all very light, clean, and super attractive.

The longevity is pretty good, I’ve gotten a little bit more than 6 hours of wear out of it, but this is a fantastic option for warmer climates or just as a strictly summertime wear.

Notes include: Lemon, Rosewood, Carambola, Cedar leaves, Tarragon, Sage, Musk, Amber, Sycamore wood.  Versace Man Eau Fraiche Full Review

Pros

  • Clean and bright aroma
  • Great for summer
  • Nice use of citrus and woods

Cons

  • Some may find the lemon too sharp
  • More of a casual fragrance

Good Daily Wear Cologne

Versace Signature By Gianni Versace Eau-de-toilette Spray for Men, 6.70-Fluid Ounce– A nice day to day fragrance from Versace with gentle spice notes. Versace opens up with bergamot and bitter orange notes, which creates a bright citrus aroma at the top.

It’s actually quite an intense fragrance, to my nose, for the first 30 minutes or so of wear. It mellows out a great deal afterwards, but that citrus opening is a bomb.

As it dries down, I get a lot more of the tonka bean and floral notes poking through, to give Versace Pour Homme much more depth of character. It is still a pretty straightforward cologne, which also provides some sage and cedar at the base.

I like Versace Signature but it was never my favorite from the line. It’s another one that is a great daily wear option for men who live in those warm climates, as it performs amazingly well in the heat. Notes include: Jasmine, Moroccan cedar wood, musk, kashmir wood, azalea.  My review of Versace

Pros

  • Nice smelling option for guys who want a daily wear
  • Fresh and can hold up in the hotter climates

Cons

  • The opening act, can be overwhelming, at times
  • Solid, but not amazing performance

versace pour homme

The Original

Versace L’Homme by Versace for Men – 3.4 Ounce EDT Spray– Admittedly, I overlooked this 1980s classic, the first go round with this list of top Versace colognes. L’Homme really is a fantastic scent and is now available at a great price.

Beyond that, it has so much depth, and a varied character. It opens up with a bold blend of citrus notes, headlined by lemon, and supported by bergamot.

Then, it dries down with leather, a cinnamon spice, and a mix of floral/woodsy notes. It’s got a clean aroma, with the citrus and leather. But then, the patchouli and other dry earthy elements come in, and dirty things up a tad.

It ends, as a smooth and dry citrus, with an air of absolute fresh spiciness. The longevity is good and the sillage can be pretty powerful, especially in the opening half hour or so. Very masculine and not really a teenager type of fragrance, at all.

Pros

  • Attractive price point
  • It’s classic style, stands out versus most modern scents
  • Wonderfully rich and masculine smell

Cons

  • Not for most younger guys

Honorable Mentions

The main seven listed here, are the best of the lot, and should be enough for anyone looking to get into Versace fragrances. However, there are other really nice options, that some would argue deserve a spot. To me, though, they are the best of the rest.

Versace Pour Homme Dylan Blue FOR MEN by Versace – 3.4 oz EDT Spray– Dylan Blue is a citrus aquatic, with strong ambroxan notes. As such, it is in the same fragrance family as, Dior Sauvage and Acqua di Gio Profumo. It opens with a grapefruit and bergamot mix, sitting on top of a watery base.

Then, there is the addition of a lovely fig. The dry down is more about the ambroxan and light spiciness. This one has lots to like, but overall, it just never stays at those heights in my opinion.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s a very nice cologne and a best seller, but doesn’t make the cut among the Versace elite. Dylan Blue Review

Blue Jeans By Gianni Versace For Men, Eau De Toilette Spray 2.5-Ounces– Blue Jeans is a wonderful fragrance by Versace, which dates back to the 1990s. The great news is, you can pick up full bottles of this for around $20 currently.

That’s a heck of a deal, even when compared to the better smelling fragrances from this list.

Blue Jeans, nonetheless, smells great. It’s simple and fresh, one that would be a great option, for younger man. You get some sweetness, with fresh notes such as lavender, and some underlying woods.

There is also some citrus in the opening. Very pleasant and a cologne, which is good for daily wear.

Versace Eros Flame for men eau de parfum spray, 3.4 Ounce, Red– Eros Flame is the flanker fragrance to the best-selling Eros. While it shares plenty of the same DNA, as the original, it is a notch below its predecessor.

I do however, especially enjoy the tangerine and lemon top notes, the are juicy and beautiful.

The performance on this one, is also fantastic. I have a full bottle, and Eros Flame, will hit double digit hours on my skin without a problem. This one is warmer, spicier, and drier than the original.

The differences really show in the latter stages. Nonetheless, Eros Flame is a likeable fragrance, and I still wear it from time to time. Eros Flame Review

 

Polo Red Intense EDP by Ralph Lauren

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It’s been a few years, since I initially tried out Polo Red Intense, and never got around to doing a review of it. So, when I saw it online, I grabbed a sample vial to go along with the rest of my latest fragrance order. Intense was released in 2015.

In this post, I am going to finally give this Red flanker, a proper review and provide my full thoughts on its performance. Is it any good? Does it last a long time? Please continue below for the complete breakdown.

What does Polo Red Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: cranberry, grapefruit, coffee, leather, ginger, amber, lavender, lemon, cedar, sage, saffron

Click here to try: Ralph Lauren Polo Red Intense for Men 4.2 Oz Edp Spray By Ralph Lauren, 4.2 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

Polo Red Intense opens up with a mix of spices and the familiar lemon and cranberry, that was found in the original, Polo Red. You definitely notice the similarities between the two fragrances, only with a heavier dose of: saffron, sage, ginger, and coffee.

It is a blend of citrus sharpness/sweetness and the herbal spices. The original goes really strong with the tart cranberry note, but it is much tamer, here.

As it moves along, I start to pick up more leather and lavender, in the mix. Intense is more of a fresh take on these notes, than the super sweetness, that is found with Polo Red. Intense especially, has less of the citrus notes, after about 15-20 minutes.

The cranberry is still there, but the fragrance, is strong with notes of amber, leather, and the coffee.

During the rest of the dry down, the cologne stays pretty consistent with the smell. You do get periods, in which the herbal notes reappear, where the coffee and fruit notes remind me of Red Extreme, and some other note combinations playing around.

Ultimately, what I get is a amber soaked cranberry note with warm coffee beans, and a smooth leather/lavender pairing. Everything else plays a bit part. It does have a really intense sweetness, at times, which can be hit or miss. However, it is generally pleasing.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of Intense is pretty strong at first, but mellows out into something that is more of a moderate. People close by, will notice, but it doesn’t fill a room, in my experience. That initial burst, will bring some power, but never completely hits beast mode.

The longevity is better than the original Polo Red, but isn’t insane. It seems to go somewhere in the 7-9 hour range, depending on the day, and climate. Not bad, but not a superstar, just a very solid wear.

In cooler weather, the performance holds up much better, and will go towards the 9 hour range more often.

Seasonally, I like Red Intense for all climates, except for the hottest days. When it gets too warm, it has a tendency to get a bit messy. Cold to warm weather. It is a very versatile fragrance, that tends to skew towards a younger man, wearing it.

This is one that can go casual or into the nightlife. It smells really good and has a certain sexiness to it. Women have responded well, when I’ve worn it around. That sweet and warm freshness, will have a lot of fans, and enjoy some wide popularity.

Red Intense isn’t one to spray on, for the office. It feels out of place, in a more formal setting. As such, I wouldn’t expect to use it as a daily wear, unless you’re a teenager or college-age.

Overall Impressions of Red Intense

Overall, do I like Polo Red Intense? I do. In my mind, it is better than the original, which I also enjoy. The longevity problems, that the initial release had, are made better. Plus, the warmer and spicier composition, is a joy to smell.

It’s not a fragrance that I want to wear, all of the time. The sweet and spicy blend, can become a bit too much, at times. But, generally, Red Intense is something that I can like wearing.

Update: Trying this again, after a few years, I’m not as high on it. The mix of notes does get on my nerves after a while. Still a nice cologne, but Polo Red Intense, isn’t one that I’d want a full bottle of personally.

(newer update: From what I can tell, Red Intense is now discontinued.)

I definitely do still like Polo Red Extreme more, but that is heavy with orange and coffee notes, which won’t be for everyone. Red Intense feels like it is more of the crowd pleaser and one that a lot of guys would gravitate to.

Bora Bora for Men by Liz Claiborne

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In continuation of my recent posts of cologne reviews, I’d like to take a closer look at an inexpensive fragrance by Liz Claiborne, Bora Bora. The men’s fragrance was released back in 2002.

How does this exotic scent stack up against other options within this price range? How’s the longevity? Is it worth a deeper look?

Read below to find out my full thoughts on this cologne. I am updating this post, a few years after the original publishing to revise and add more depth.

What does Bora Bora by Liz Claiborne Smell Like?

bora bora

Notes include: lemon, musk, woods, kiwi, leather, bergamot

Click here to try: Bora Bora Liz Claiborne Cologne for Men 3.4 Oz New in Box

My Full Wear Review

So, the first thing that I notice when smelling Bora Bora , is that it is a very tropical smell. The kiwi note is quite prevalent, along with the lemon note right off the bat. It doesn’t have the same kind of bright lemon note something like Aventus would have, rather, it is a tart and sort of sour note.

The kiwi is the main force behind the cologne, with the two citrus notes, playing more of a support role overall. The sweetness is there, but this doesn’t have a candy-like or even a really juicy aroma.

Kiwi is a very underutilized note, but it works rather well in Bora Bora. It captures that South Pacific island vibe. I can’t think of any other men’s fragrances off of the top of my head that use kiwi.

It is accompanied by musk and a faint hint of leather, which ties it all together. As it dries down, it feels like it becomes more of a woodsy sort of scent with some floral aspects.

However, at the top it is a very clean and light fruity affair. Not super sweet, mind you, but a nice kiwi with citrus scent.

During the late stages of the first hour or so of wear, it does begin to shift more away from the kiwi. The leather isn’t rich, but it is more noticeable than it had been earlier. Lavender seems to take on a role of dampening the other ingredients somewhat.

Hibiscus and woody notes, emerge more, and work sort of as a blend with the now weakened kiwi ingredient. The hibiscus, never really takes over as the dominant floral note when placed against lavender.

That’s kind of disappointing, because it is an interesting note. From there, it is pretty linear, and has fully developed into what it will be for the rest of the wear.

So, Bora Bora is a kiwi and lemon opening, that dries down into a clean leather and light woods scent. Fresh with a bit of a soapy smell.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection and longevity of Bora Bora is pretty light to moderate in both categories. You’ll definitely notice it at first, but it kind of fades after an hour or two, into a more personal scent. At its peaks, probably a 3-5 foot radius of scent, off of the skin.

It’ll still be around at the 5-6 hour mark but I haven’t been able to get much longer than that. Honestly, for the price that this fragrance sells at, the performance is pretty darn good. Most other fragrances will quit a few hours in, this one is actually serviceable.

Also, this is probably best worn in the late spring to summer, with it’s more exotic notes. It feels out of place here in the winter time.

As a casual warm weather fragrance it works just fine. In a warmer climate, this would be a good cheapie, to hold up against the humidity.

Bora Bora could venture into the workplace, but it doesn’t have much refinement or formality. I’d mostly stick to this for just wearing around during the lazy summer days. It has a fairly attractive scent, but nothing that I would call ‘sexy’, and isn’t a nightlife powerhouse.

Very much a standard daytime wear, but nothing close to a signature scent.

Overall Impressions of Bora Bora

Overall, would I recommend this? I’m not that into it. It doesn’t really smell bad or anything…but it doesn’t feel like something I’d like to wear on a regular basis. It is a unique scent and very inexpensive, but Bora Bora seems pretty linear and boring, in its presentation.

This isn’t at the top of my list, as the best Liz Claiborne fragrance, but it definitely isn’t terrible either. It does work pretty well for something, at this price point, and gives you a different experience from a lot else out there.

Some guys might really like wearing this but it was just rather plain to me. That being said, the kiwi and leather notes are an interesting combination, and I do like its overall simple cleanliness. It ends up feeling like a missed opportunity at a lower price point.

It’s not going to blow anyone away, but Bora Bora is a good cologne for cheap.