Fragrances

10 Best Colognes of the 1970s

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The 1970s really saw the first expansion of offerings, in terms of men’s fragrances. In a lot of ways, Estee Lauder helped to pioneer the space, with popular cologne releases.

Now, the number of fragrances during this decade aren’t as numerous (then or having availability now) when compared to the subsequent years, but there are some great scents from this time period.

The style can be much earthier, herbal, and just plain different than what you may be used to today. So, many guys won’t vibe with these classic. Anyway, here is my list of the best colognes of the 1970s.

Classic Green Bottle

Polo by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau de Toilette Natural Spray, 4-Fluid Ounce– The original, the classic. Polo is a fantastic and woodsy aromatic for the gentleman who is bold and like to stand out.

It starts out quite dry with leather and pine notes and then transitions into a rich tobacco and patchouli blend that is smoky and intriguing.

An absolute monster in terms of sillage and performance. There’s a reason it has been so loved for over 40 years.

It such a great blend and starts to check off boxes throughout. Herbal. Woodsy. Spicy. A very thorough scent and one which completely goes against the grain of most of the most popular colognes of today’s era. You can also try the updated Cologne Intense version.

Again, not for everyone, but Polo is an absolute signature scent for the right man.  My Full Review

polo

70s Z

Z-14 by Halston– Z-14 is one that is still going strong today and is available at a massive discount to the modern designer options.

However, this Halston will always be special. It’s fresh, with a smoother finish, and a woody clean profile.

Cypress and cinnamon are pretty prominent early on. But, the spice never feels like it overwhelms anything. The smooth comes in from the leather and other resinous notes in the base.

Z-14 isn’t rough, it’s kind of soapy, and very well put together. Oakmoss in the middle to latter stages, gives it an earthier woodsy aroma to go along with that smoother leather.

Grey Energy

Eau de Grey Flannel- Eau de Grey Flannel is an energetic and soapy/body wash kind of cologne. It’s got a similar style to Chrome by Azzaro, which came out in the 1990s. To me, the citrus is what’s toned down the most. Though, it’s still plenty noticeable in the top.

To me, it turns woodsy fresh and a bit herbal green. Cedar, lavender, and cypress are the main notes I get in the dry down. But, eucalyptus and sage pair well with the lighter citrus notes early on.

What it does have going for it nowadays? Mainly, it’s the price. Less than $15 is pretty commonplace for a full bottle. It can be worth checking out, as a value play.

An Older Gentleman

Givenchy Gentleman Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 100ml, 3.3 Ounce– It can be quite confusing to pick out scents from Givenchy, as they keep on recycling ‘Gentleman’ and ‘Gentlemen’ titles in their colognes. But, this one from the 1970s is still among their best.

Gentleman, is a spicy/woodsy scent with notes of patchouli and leather as its highlights. It is mature and refined with a citrus note that adds some sweetness to the mix.

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

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

gent

My Favorite 70s Scent

Yves Saint Laurent Pour Homme- This is my absolute favorite of the 1970s decade. I have a bottle of the Haute Concentration version released in 1983, which is a simplified and more concentrated version of this 1971 release.

Unfortunately, this one is much more expensive and harder to come by, a still pristine bottle of.

Pour Homme became more well-known for younger people, as it was shown in the cabinet of the Patrick Bateman character in “American Psycho”.

YSL Pour Homme kicks off with it’s citrus notes lemon and bergamot. Flanked by a whole host of other ingredients including rosemary, lemon verbena, lavender, with other woods and herbal spices.

Citrus and lavender are going to be dominant here. Underneath that, it is woody, herbal, musky, and very well balanced.

A 70s Musk

Jovan Musk– Released in the 1970s, but I remember it from the 1990s. It used to come as a part of a gift set, that some relative would inevitably give someone in my family during Christmas.

Frankly, I’m not even sure if I like this one entirely. I certainly don’t hate it, but it is one of those enduring and popular releases from this time period. I go back and forth between liking it, with long stretches of indifference.

Fresh spice from mint and pepper are joined by some light citrus notes up top. The dry down gets muskier, with plenty of warmth, and a lavender note to temper things somewhat.

The formula now is ‘vegan friendly’, so, it’s going to have a synthetic musk note(s) in lieu of what you used to get.

Beast Mode

Yatagan– Yatagan is a scent from Caron, that is absolutely not for everyone. It’s unique and challenging to pull off at times.

The opening is gritty, with dry woodsy note, an animaliac musk, and general earthiness to it. This one can be weird, if you’re new to this type of fragrance. Most people, from any generation, are not.

But, Yatagan’s unique qualities make it one from the 70s that has to be on the list. At times, it’s very bitter and quite dirty. Then, it is like a fresh stroll through a damp forest. Loud and bold, a testament to perfumes that no longer get made.

Old School Azzaro

Azzaro By Azzaro For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 6.8 oz– Azzaro Pour Homme is another one from the decade, that is still going strong and still has its many fans.

It starts things off with moss, anise, and cedar notes. Very fresh, spicy, and woodsy. A light lemon note and a great coldness that permeates the start.

It will clean up with the inclusion of leather and lavender notes. The dry down is a pretty classic barbershop style of cologne.

Honestly, there are better options than this one. But, I still think this is a worthwhile fragrance from this time period. Azzaro Review

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Early Influence

Paco Rabanne– Paco Rabanne Pour Homme was released in 1973 and you can detect its style, coming through in many other designer releases that follow. It has an aroma that is somewhat like, Polo.

When I think 1970s colognes, I think: mossy, musk, lavender, and spice. That’s what this one has going for it.

This one goes for a very greenish start, with plenty of dry woods surrounding it. Later, it is cleaner with lavender, honey, and musk.

Paco Rabanne Pour Homme been out for 50 years, at this point, and still being sold. There must be something to it.

best 70s colognes

A Distant Hermes

Equipage By Hermes For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3 Oz.– Hermes’ fragrances are always quality, but not always something that I want to wear, even up to today’s releases.

Equipage is a very interesting and charming Hermes fragrance from the 1970s, that isn’t really like anything else released nowadays.

This one is for sure in my top 10 for the decade, which probably isn’t the case for the brand in any others.

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

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

Noir Extreme by Tom Ford

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Still working my way through a box of samples, that I received 5-6 months ago, and only 40-something more fragrances to do write-ups on! For this entry, we have a very popular men’s fragrance by Tom Ford, Noir Extreme. This scent was released in 2015.

This is of course, the flanker fragrance to the original Noir, and one which has plenty of fans. I will cover what the notes are, how it smells, how it performs, and whether or not Noir Extreme is worth a purchase.

Note: I have updated this post several times since the initial review of the sample that I bought years ago.

What does Noir Extreme Smell Like?

Notes include: Cardamom, vanilla, saffron, amber, sandalwood, nutmeg, neroli, orange blossom, kulfi, rose

Click here to try: Tom Ford Noir Extreme Men Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Noir Extreme is to my nose, a floral spice. The nutmeg and cardamom notes add the warm spice, and I also pick up that familiar saffron smell, along with neroli and orange blossom. It’s warm, with a potent initial spice, and an underlying citrus sweetness.

Yes, the spice is fairly strong at first, but it quickly moves into something that is much sweeter. Vanilla is the main culprit for that, along with what I guess is kulfi (some sort of Indian dessert), but I have no frame of reference for what that should smell like.

However, there is a pistachio note as a part of this accord, and it really comes through with the vanilla about 10-15 minutes into the wear.

At this point in the wear, I really enjoy the vibe that I am getting from Noir Extreme. It is a great gourmand aroma, with ambery warmth, and a nice balance of floral notes. At this stage, a bit of rose and jasmine come out, but neither is all that distinct within the composition.

Though, it does smell more floral than it had been previously, more of a light bouquet effect versus any one standout.

Further along, a woody base emerges, with creamy sandalwood and maybe cedar? I’m not sure what the other wood note is, maybe a blend of some kind. Either way, it solidifies the fragrance, and adds some depth.

What I ultimately get from Noir Extreme is: a creamy/milky vanilla dessert aroma, with amber, saffron, cardamom, and a mix of floral notes. It is deliciously sweet, warm, and very appealing.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

noir extreme review

Projection wise, the sillage starts off strong for me. That power will last for a few hours, before it settles down, closer to the skin.

From there, it is light to moderate. I do enjoy the boldness of the start of Noir Extreme, the later whiffs that you get are nice too, but doesn’t have that same impact.

However, the longevity is still good, even after it loses some sillage strength and 8 hours of wear is not out of the question with this Tom Ford perfume.

Usually it will fall in the 6-8 hour range. It’s not a super beast with how long it lasts, but it is good enough for most purposes. Update: With my full bottle, I can sometimes get an extra hour from Extreme.

Seasonally, I would reserve this for autumn and winter, mostly. It is beautiful in the cooler temperatures and would be fine in more temperate ones. However, it isn’t really built for heat and humidity, so I’d skip on wearing it in summer.

For me, I’d say I really only have a 4-5 month window to wear Noir Extreme where I live. You may get a few more months out of it.

It is a men’s fragrance, but strikes me more as a unisex wear. It’s gourmand sweetness would work just fine for a lady. It also feels more natural to wear it dressed up. To the office, a formal or at least, semi-formal occasion.

It is an attractive fragrance, that people really seem to enjoy, catching a whiff of. The vanilla note sits perfectly on my skin and it’s really nice to wear.

Update: After a few years with Extreme, I can say that it is great for the nightlife. I’ve worn it on dates or at bars and lounges. With it, I have gotten overwhelmingly positive responses, commenting on how ‘sexy’ a fragrance it is.

Overall Impressions of Noir Extreme

Overall, do I like Noir Extreme? Absolutely. This is becoming one of my personal favorite Tom Ford scents, that I’ve worn thus far (and that’s most of them). The vanilla blend, the cardamom, amber, and spice notes at the top are all great.

I wish the sillage held its power for longer, but the overall performance is still very solid. It is an expensive fragrance, but is probably one that would be worth owning. Noir Extreme isn’t super ‘extreme’ but it is a very beautiful fragrance. Somewhat limited to cooler temperatures.

Coming back to this one a few more times, has really made me appreciate the intricate layers of this fragrance. I’m not one of the Tom Ford super fans, but when this label gets it right, the results are spectacular. This is one of those instances.

Noir Extreme and Noir de Noir are Ford scents that I can come back to time and time again. If it could get a few more hours of wear, it would be near perfect for certain times of the year. As it is, it’s still one of the best fragrances around.

Update: I’m probably half way through my full bottle of Noir Extreme. It’s absolutely one of my favorites for wintertime. Tom Ford also released a Parfum version of Noir Extreme, which some people prefer.

Personally, I like the original a bit more still. Though, I own and wear both (sometimes together). Try both and see how each works for you.

noir extreme parfum

8 Fragrances that Smell Similar to Armani Code

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Ahhh, Armani Code. It has been around for 15+ years or so now, had its time in the sun, and still remains pretty popular. Nowadays, there are better options, especially in the Armani Code lineup than the original. However, the classic does still manage to have its charms.

This is why so many fragrance companies have created comparable scents to this cologne. In this post, I want to present some options for men, who want a similar smell to Armani Code or an alternative for less money.

What Colognes Smell Similar to Armani Code?

An Inspired Code

Ambery Lavender by Dossier– As far as fragrances that are inspired by the DNA of the original Armani Code, this one from Dossier is probably your best bet.

It seeks to get as close as possible to Code, by using the same sort of notes, and Ambery Lavender accomplishes this well. For under $30 (as of writing).

Clean with the light citrus, lavender, and tonka bean keeping things smooth. Plus, just enough spice to make it interesting. Worth trying out, if you want a good take on the original Code EDT.

Sporty Code

Code of Dua– So, Dua, went in another direction and created an inspired take on the old Armani Code Sport flanker.

That one, was a very fresh take with a greater use of the citrus top notes and a fairly strong mint coming through. Sport was discontinued a long time ago, but if you want to try it out, without spending crazy amounts on unsold bottles…this is what you’ll want.

The mint is joined by ginger, vetiver, and some kind of aquatic accord to give it that slightly spice and cool sporty vibe.

Close but Distinct

Ermenegildo Zegna Intenso Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– Intenso is a quality and fairly close aroma to Armani Code. The opening act is quite similar, with citrus, and then the later tonka bean smoothness. This Zegna cologne is similiar to Armani Code, yet, different enough to be it’s own thing.

Intenso is smooth with a solid dark feel that is balanced by a citrus sweet undertone. Intenso is softer, with more of a powdered aroma than Code, thanks to the attractive iris note. Not the best sillage, but it can be double sprayed, as it isn’t very expensive.

Dirt Cheap Impression

Hollywood Playboy by Coty for Men Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 oz– Soft, powdery, and sweet like a very poor man’s Armani Code. But hey, for $5-10, you can go nuts with the sprays to make it last longer than the few hours it usually gives.

Hollywood is a mixed bag performance wise, though, it could serve a place in a teenager’s or younger man’s collection. The citrus in the beginning, isn’t of the same quality as the Armani, but the later vanilla, amber, and lavender are much better.

In the end, Hollywood overcomes its shaky start, and has a really nice aroma with a bit of floral and woods underneath.

Another Super Cheap Option

Cuba Brazil Copacabana Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce– One of the lesser known fragrance offerings from Cuba. Copacabana opens up with a great citrus blend and floral notes, which gives it a bit of a powdery edge.

There’s a noticeable lavender and at least some rose within the composition. It is a fresh sorts of fragrance, which dries down with some clove spice, and underlying woody notes. Pretty straightforward fragrance, but smells quite nice, and has good performance.

Copacabana shares the citrus and powdery qualities of Code. A bit spicier and the dry down doesn’t have the same leathery vibe. If you want the absolute cheapest options, go with this and/or Playboy Hollywood.

Similar Style and Inexpensive

Antoino Banderas Seduction In Black for Men Eau-de-Toilette Spray, 3.4-Ounce– This one is more of an inexpensive cousin of Armani Code, rather than, being a clone of our target scent. Seduction in Black, is however, a very nice scent for the price.

The main similarities are the use of citrus and the heavy tonka bean in this Antonio Banderas fragrance. However, the black currant note gives this one more of a juiciness and sharpness.

This shares spicy qualities, but nutmeg, in lieu of anise. Dries down with some amber and musk. Performance is pretty good for this price level, but nothing insane. Just another cheapie option.

Newer and Better Code Flanker

Giorgio Armani Code Absolu EDP Eau de Parfum For Men 3.7oz– Code Absolu is a similar yet stand alone flanker to Armani Code…and it is better. Code Absolu opens up with nutmeg, rum, suede, and tonka bean. There is also a hint of citrus and crisp apple, in the background.

The spice of the nutmeg is dominant for a few minutes, before the suede and tonka bean really take over. The fresh spice here is great, nutmeg and rum, are surprisingly great together. The fruit notes, are also just strong enough, to prevent it being a completely dark fragrance.

This one is fresh, warm, with a nice sweetness from vanilla and tonka bean. The projection is strong, but not absurdly so, and the longevity consistently hits 10+ hours, on my skin. Again, it shares a similar DNA to the original Code, but stands alone with its fragrance. Code Absolu Full Review

Update: It’s been discontinued.

Another one in the $10-15 Range

Password By La Rive for Men EDT 2.5 oz / 75 ML– Password isn’t an exact one to one of Code, just pretty darn similar. It’s powdery and there is citrus in the mix, but it’s different on that aspect than the early stages of the Armani.

What you’re really going to get here is violet. Once the bergamot has settled down, it is a fresh lightly spiced powdery floral blend. Violet and jasmine. Not the highest quality, but the performance isn’t awful.

Is La Rive Password better than Code? No, but it’ll get you a very inexpensive alternative that can cover most of your bases.

H24 EDT vs. EDP by Hermes

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H24 is the newer fragrance series for men by Hermes. Thus far, we have gotten the first release, H24 EDT and the subsequent H24 eau de parfum. In this post, I want to compare the two colognes, and see what the differences are. Which smells better? How long do they last? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: H24 EDT vs EDP

H24

Notes includes: sage, narcissus, rosewood, sclarene

Click here to try: H24 by Hermes

Read my review: H24 EDT

h24 review

H24 EDP

Notes include: moss, sclarene, sage, rosewood, narcissus

Click here to try: H24 EDP

My Review: H24 eau de parfum

Opening

H24 EDT starts out like a sage bomb, on my skin. The sclarene note adds its metallic influence underneath that, but it feels warmer than the eau de parfum version. Like, the moss in that, has a cooling influence in comparison.

Narcissus is stronger in the early stages in EDT. There is also a lighter fruity touch to the blend, that doesn’t come through as much with the EDP.

H24 EDP opens up quite metallic and green with how it comes across. In this mix, the moss and sclarene are amped up from the jump. Not as much sage, as with EDT, but it is still there.

Oakmoss is also in the original, just a fairly negligible amount. In EDP, it’s massive.

Plus, the yellow floral aspect and underlying woods are detectable. A bit of sweetness under that, mossy metal aroma, and very cold fresh.

Which is better?

The greenish metal scent of EDP is interesting, but I like how H24 EDT kicks off somewhat more. The sage and the weighting of the other notes, is more likeable to me than the infusion of moss, with the eau de parfum.

Edge: H24

Projection

I don’t notice too much of a difference with how each projects or the sillage, overall. With the original H24, it would project 5-7 feet and come in closer from there.

Nothing massive, but I knew it was around pretty deep into the wear. With EDP, it might have an extra bump up top with the strength. But really, nothing super noticeable.

EDP does have a better ability to stay at it’s stronger levels than the EDT. For that, I’ll give it the edge.

Edge: EDP

Longevity

Again, there isn’t a huge difference in terms of how long each cologne lasts, either. With the original, I got 6-7.5 hours of wear from it, each time I tested the EDT.

Nothing amazing, but I found it to be solid.

With H24 eau de parfum, it was maybe a tad better. Up to 8.5 hours, mostly with the moss still hanging around. Though, about 7-ish hours, on average.

Edge: EDP

Versatility

There’s no difference in this category.

Both are more daytime oriented, work safe, and very easy to wear. Each is at its best in spring and summer. But, can extend into the autumn months too. Very versatile fragrances.

A slight age difference. Each can be worn by anyone, but EDP feels more geared towards an older audience, and EDT can work well for either.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these do I prefer?

H24 EDT and EDP aren’t completely different from one another, like some flankers can be. Add a much stronger oakmoss note to the original and fiddle some with the weightings of the other notes, and you have, EDP.

I’m probably in the minority opinion, but I like the original more than the stronger EDP. I’m not in love with either, I think they’re both likeable scents, but the EDT just smells better to me throughout the wear.

The dry down is pretty similar between them. EDT is more of the narcissus influence, both are much heavier with the rosewood, near the end.

Really, it comes down to whether you like moss and it’s fresher aspects. Hermes calls this a ‘high-tech moss’ and it doesn’t come across as naturalistic. There’s something slightly different about it.

H24 EDP feels better suited to older guys. It’s less sweet, less floral, and has a classic clean.

Personally, I’m going with the original EDT. I like the woody dry down with the narcissus. Nothing too complex, but a bit more enjoyable to me.

Winner: H24 EDT

Habit Rouge Rouge Prive by Guerlain

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Habit Rouge Rouge Prive, is a 2023 flanker to the original Habit Rouge, which has been popular for decades. I bought a sample of Rouge, after seeing so many positive comments about the scent.

I have been testing this Guerlain out and putting it through its paces for review. I must note, that I am not going to be comparing it to the original, as it’s been years since I’ve even smelled Habit Rouge. So, I really don’t want to try to do it based off memory alone.

How does Rouge Prive smell? How long does it last? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Habit Rouge Rouge Prive Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, leather, ginger, iris, vanilla, patchouli, orange blossom

My Full Review

Here’s how Guerlain describes it: The legendary bergamot-leather accord of Habit Rouge intensified by the sensuality of patchouli and modernized by the spiciness of ginger.

The opening of Rouge Prive comes out with a very strong use of its bergamot note. Juicy, sour, and quite good.

Immediately alongside of that, you’re already going to get the leather note showing itself. It’s already powerful, but will grow to dominate this Guerlain fragrance.

What’s interesting to me, is the mix of warmth and spiciness from the ginger note, and the patchouli peaking through. It’s kind of presenting a roasted and crispy bergamot aroma up close.

However, pulling back my nose, this has a light powdery/soapy aroma from the iris and very light orange blossom. The orange blossom, what little there is, seems to be gone in 20 minutes or so.

The transition away from the warmer spiciness of the opening is the first major change. That ginger becomes much weaker, leather and patchouli rise further. Still, the bergamot is playing a major role at this point in time.

After about an hour in, the powdery aroma has faded a lot. You pretty much get the same thing the rest of the way: luxurious and smooth leather, bergamot and patchouli jockeying for position, and a bit of vanilla to soften out the edges.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Habit Rouge Rouge Prive absolutely packs a punch. That opening is loud, fairly heavy, and projects extremely well.

The thing is, the party keeps on going for a long long time. The projection hours into the wear, is still very noticeable, and outdoes a lot of mainstream designer colognes at their peak. 5+ feet off of the skin or clothing, seems about right, after 3-plus hours.

It also is one that lasts over 9 hours and got up to 11 for me. For some people, Rouge Prive might extend beyond that. That wasn’t true in my case, but it’s a scent with fantastic longevity.

Seasonally, this works anytime outside of the height of summer. Just avoid having it on in the heat and humidity. You should be fine any other time. Rouge Prive is at its best, when it’s at least slightly cold, however.

One that can be worn day or into the night. It’s got a refined style, that’s suitable for ‘dressier’ wear, but not so completely stuffy that it’s unwearable in a more chill scenario.

I might goes easy on the sprays, if you’re wearing it to the office or elsewhere in close quarters. Though, it should still fit in, for a wide variety of situations.

Skews older. Not an ‘old man’ scent, but probably not something that most high school aged guys are going to be wearing to class, either.

Overall Impressions of Rouge Prive

Overall, do I like this fragrance? I do. I received this sample along with a decant of Ideal Platine Prive, also by Guerlain, and I like that one more than Rouge Prive.

But, this is still a very nice fragrance, if you’re into this sort of style. The Habit Rouge series does come across as a masculine version of Shalimar. Rouge Prive, is a modernized version of that.

I do like the opening with the ginger, bergamot, and leather. It’s a great start to the wear. The powdery touch are also nice.

I must note, that the bergamot and leather combination, does kind of get old to me after a number of hours. Just starts to wear on my nerves. Not completely awful or anything, but not something that I want to personally have on all day.

The performance is fantastic too. Rouge Prive will stick around for a long time, without completely diminishing in its strength until very deep into the wear.

Rouge Prive is worth a try, if you like the original or are a fan of leathery scents. This Guerlain does have pretty limited availability both geographically and the number of stores it actually sells in.

That being the case, you might have to just blind buy it, if you’re really interested. If this sounds like something you’d be into, I don’t think you’d be disappointed with what you get.