Fragrances

6 Fragrances Similar to Polo Red

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Polo Red has been a very popular release from Ralph Lauren. It has spawned multiple flanker fragrances and remains among their best sellers, many years after it came out. As a result, many guys want to find a cologne that smells similar, is a clone, or just a cheaper alternative to wear. In this post, I want to give four options that can best try to duplicate the aroma and style, one gets from Polo Red.

What Colognes Smell Like or are Alternatives to Polo Red?

Higher Quality Inspired Creation

Bet on Red by Dua– The next entry on the list is the cheapeast alternative, that tries to mimic the scent of Polo Red. However, this one from Dua is of higher quality and comes closer to actually accomplishing that feat (while still costing less than the Ralph Lauren).

It still comes at you with the same opening of tart cranberry and citrus notes. It’s a sweet tart sort of aroma. Then, you’ll get the signature coffee note surrounded by amber and some of that sage heart.

As of right now, this is probably the best available alternative that smells almost entirely the same as what we’re looking for. Other entries on the list have different qualities and similarities that might interest you. This one, hits the same beats as Polo Red.

Super Cheap Smell Alike

Red Classic Match, version of Polo Red Eau de Toilette Spray for Men– Classic Match fragrances are designed to be super cheap alternatives to original designer colognes. This is the Polo Red version, that bears a striking resemblance, but not an exact copy of our target. Nonetheless, you can get a bottle for under $10, and simulate most of what you get from the Ralph Lauren fragrance.

Intense Flanker

Polo Red Intense by Ralph Lauren for Men 4.2oz Eau de Parfum Spray– Red Intense is the closest smelling flanker fragrance, to the original Polo Red. Red Intense starts off with a similar cranberry and citrus blend.

However, it also includes more coffee and spices, such as sage. It is a fresher version of this scent, still sweet, but with more warmth (amber) and spice. Plus, a very nice leather not. This one has better sillage and performance, than the original. Polo Red Intense Review

Similar Style Designer Wear

Play by Givenchy for Men, Eau de Toilette Spray, 1.7 Ounce– Givenchy Play isn’t a duplicate for Polo Red, but it does have a similar style. It contains the same citrus notes (just no cranberry), along with coffee.

I actually preferred Play Intense, to this one, but Play has more similarities to Polo Red. Givenchy’s Play, has been discontinued, but you can still pick up bottles online. Again, not a clone, but sits in the same category as Red.

Update: The bottles that are left, are generally way too expensive to be worth it anymore.

Sweeter Polo Red Alternative

Davidoff Davidoff The brilliant game by davidoff for men – 2 Ounce edt spray, 2 Ounce– The Brilliant Game from Davidoff, is a pretty close alternative to Polo Red, in how it presents itself. It has a similar top of citrus and a cranberry like aroma, but adds a boozy liquor mixture with it, which gives the cologne a sort of fizziness.

Then, it turns to sweet caramel and cream tonka bean during the latter stages. Very warm and attractive scent, that delivers much of what you get with the Polo.

Red Ferrari

Man in Red by Ferrari– Sweet apple and tart plum give this one a really fruity sensation that hits in the same ballpark as Polo Red. Though, it’s not at all identical. It’s gives me shades of Scuderia Red, Guess Seductive, and Polo Red.

Pink pepper gives you some warmth and spice. No coffee or amber in this one. But, you get a creaminess from tonka bean and vanilla, while the apple, citrus, and tart provide that same type of style as the Polo.

It’s a decent alternative or one to try, if you can get it at a cheaper price. Personally, I think Polo Red is better than this one, but it can provide some value too. Man in Red Review

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8 Colognes Similar to The One by D&G

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I first tried The One by Dolce & Gabbana EDT over a decade ago and a few before starting this site. At the time, it was perhaps my favorite smelling cologne, that I had come across. Now, I had way less experience at the time, but I loved the aroma.

Only problem, was that it seemingly lasted for 15 minutes, before fading (more like a few hours in reality). Though, I do love the EDP, which gives me better performance…just still at designer prices.

I know a lot of other guys who have had a similar experience, want to find a better performing alternative, or perhaps a cheaper near clone. So, in this post I will present some similar options to The One, which might fit the bill for you.

Favorite Fragrance Alternatives to The One by Dolce & Gabbana

Inspired By

1 and Only by the Dua Brand– As I said, the problem with the original EDT formula (somewhat corrected by the EDP) was the longevity. 1 and Only from Dua is a more concentrated extrait de parfum, which allows the fragrance to have greater staying power.

Dua does a great job with its ‘inspired’ blends, 1 and Only, is their interpretation of the 2008 original release of The One by D&G.

It’s got all of the notes covered from the initial grapefruit, the warmth of the amber, tobacco, and the orange blossom note sitting in the heart of it all.

The full bottle is available now, as of posting, and they do sometimes have in stock the travel vial spray giving you a cheaper option.

Another One

Woody Coriander by Dossier– Out of the ‘inspired’ versions of The One formula, Woody Coriander is the least expensive. It’s an eau de parfum, not as concentrated with the fragrance as the two extrait de parfums on this list.

Now, I haven’t tried this one out, but I’ve had good experiences with Dossier scents before. Reading the reviews, some have had more issues with performances than with the Dua or the Alexandria, below. It’s probably not much of a problem, but it might be a notch below the others.

Still, it has all of the notes right, the quality of this brand is there, and it’s got the price point locked up if that’s your greatest concern. Woody Coriander could be worth checking out for some of you.

The Third

Ovation by Alexandria Fragrances– Ovation is another option for those who want a close rendition to The One sort of formula, as they put it: What does the sexiest man on the planet smell like? He smells like Ovation, a smooth and sultry fragrance that projects confident sensuality.

I haven’t yet tried out this one, either. Alexandria does have some great ‘inspired by’ designer quality scents, so, it’s hard to imagine that they missed the mark here.

The price is more than the first two, which might be a limiting factor. You can get Ovation as a part of a sample pack along with six other fragrances of your choice, if you want to go that route.

Similar and High End 

Tom Ford for Men by Tom Ford 100ml 3.4oz EDT Spray–The namesake of the fragrance line, is fresh and sexy with a full array of notes which awaken the senses.

The only real issue is that it can have some longevity problems, on a certain percentage of guy’s skin. Not to the same extent as The One, however, just not crazy long lasting.

It opens with citrus notes and a bit of spice from ginger before transitioning into a tobacco and amber mix with other notes including patchouli. It’s not an exact copy of The One, but it’s got so many overlapping notes, just weighted differently within the composition.

That opening is really great. The lemon and ginger are the strongest, but you do get a blend of citrus, and some extra herbal spice from basil. Base notes are dry and woody, some sweet tobacco, and a moderate amber note.

Really quite refreshing and a well-blended daily wear for men. One of the best aspects of Tom Ford for Men, is that it can be worn when it is warmer outside.

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The Super Cheap Option

Ed Hardy Villain Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 4.2 Ounce– Villain often gets billed as the cheaper version of The One. I definitely could smell the resemblance, while testing it out, but it seemed like something for younger guys.

The opening has a stronger citrus note than in the Dolce. Plus, the smell is much sweeter overall, and not blended nearly as well. It does become a fresher, warmer, and spicier cologne as it settles down. Mainly, amber with pepper, and lavender.

On my skin, I could manage 3-4 hours from Villain. Not great, but then again, superior to what I ever got with The One. This could be an option for younger men, who need to keep things inexpensive.

Exact clone? Not really. Cheaper alternative? For some percentage of those reading this. Villain Review

A Cleaner Citrus Cologne

Vera Wang 3.4 Fl. oz. Eau De Toilette Spray Men– Vera Wang is somewhere in between Tom Ford for Men (probably closer to this) and The One. Vera Wang opens up with yuzu and is overall much more of a citrus cologne, than the others.

While it has a nice bit of tobacco and warmth, it lacks the same level of spice, particularly the cardamom note. It’s a fresh and clean mix, that is quite versatile, and very well put together.

Woodier and Fresh

Jaguar Prestige by Jaguar Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 oz– Jaguar Prestige starts out with a citrus blend,  which is fresh and zesty. This is flanked by some light pepper and nutmeg. Again, this isn’t a complete clone to The One, as Prestige has a much woodier and citrus laden profile.

What’s noticeably lacking is the tobacco and amber, so this one, isn’t as warm. Nevertheless, it’s a nice and fairly closely related fragrance to our target. Decent performance, too.

Inexpensive and Similar

Intimately Beckham By Beckham For Men, Eau De Toilette Spray, 2.5-Ounce Bottle
A bit sweet, smooth, with a hint of spice and a woodsy heart. It’s almost unisex in its presentation and its longevity can be an issue, though, its still a very nice scent.

Intimately Beckham features notes of sandalwood, amber, star anise, and bergamot among others. To me, feels best to be worn in the autumn or winter months. It does have a similar smell to The One, but not to the same weighting.

The amber and lack of whiskey notes, do stand out in comparison. But, cardamom and anise give it a close vibe for a low price.

It has a soft, somewhat powdery warmth, and fresh spice from the star anise and nutmeg notes. While a ‘cheapie’, this Beckham cologne can work well in a variety of situations, including dressed up for an evening. The sandalwood adds a layer of clean smoothness. Review

intimately-beckham-men-edt-50ml-30003492-0-1321522359000

Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler

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Another sample cologne that I picked up recently was Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler. Now, I was already somewhat familiar with this fragrance, but seeing as I hadn’t smelled it in a long time, I didn’t want to write up a review post for it. So, I grabbed a sample with my last order and wanted to put together my full thoughts on this Mugler scent from the A*Men line.

What does A*Men Pure Malt Smell Like?

angel men pure malt review

Notes include: bergamot, patchouli, vanilla, cedar, amber, fruits, coffee bean, musk

Click here to try: Angel Men Pure Malt by Thierry Mugler Eau De Toilette Spray (Limited Edition) for Men, 3.40 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Pure Malt really sets the stage. Man, is this a rich and enticing fragrance. It kind of reminds me of B*Men also by Thierry Mugler but way better with less spice and an enjoyable fruitiness.

I’ve been really digging scents that feature a boozy type of aroma, and Pure Malt is beautiful, like a fine whiskey. There is a warm sweetness in the same vein as Pure Havane but with alcohol in lieu of tobacco.

The start features the blend of fruits, vanilla, whiskey, and a bit of the patchouli. The patchouli comes through to give it a warm bakery feeling, like it does in so many women’s perfumes. However here, it just helps to shape the alcoholic sweetness.

As the scent wears on, I feel that it becomes even better than the opening act. The berry-like fruits begin to fully emerge and give the cologne a distinctive feel. Nonetheless, they are only playing a supporting role at this stage.

However, Pure Malt never relinquishes its very masculine energy or fall into a trap of being too ambiguous. I found myself constantly trying to get a whiff of this lovely gourmand scent throughout the night that I was wearing it. It was just enjoyable and pleasant to wear.

Finally, the latter stages are smooth, creamy, warm, woody, with its underlying sweetness still kicking around. Vanilla, tonka bean, and vague hints of coffee are swirling around a base of cedar and malt.

The coffee bean adds a nice touch, as you can only pick up its familiar scent, at certain times during the wear. Pure Malt is just unique and plain delicious to the senses.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, Pure Malt is fairly strong, but not crazy so. You’ll notice that it’s there and so will other people around you but it shouldn’t choke anyone out unless you went overboard.

I actually got good longevity with this, it’s hard to remember the details of when I applied and when it faded last night but I’d say 6-8 hours or thereabouts. Update: After wearing this for a while, it seems like 7 hours is pretty standard, for Pure Malt’s longevity. Not a monster performer, but still quite enough.

Pure Malt is yet another cold weather gem. Seriously, the one thing that might hold me back from buying a larger bottle is that I already have so many ‘go-to’s’ during the cooler months of the year…it’s starting to get ridiculous. But yeah, during the summer months, this wouldn’t be a wise choice.

This is quite a masculine cologne and while I like it, it seems that women had mixed feelings about it while I had it on. Most liked it, but weren’t in love with it. It’s funny because I really liked wearing this stuff, so this is one, I probably won’t account for others’ opinions.

Another update: the more that I’ve worn this, the more the positive reactions, outweigh the negative or indifferent. There are times, where this gets an insane number of complements, while out on the town.

I don’t know that I’d wear this to an office. It’s more of a casual, date night, or evening out kind of scent. It does contain those strong alcoholic notes, which you might not want to smell like whiskey, while at work. Your call, though.

Overall Impression of Pure Malt

Overall, would I rate Pure Malt a buy? Yes, I think it’s great but I don’t think it’d be for everyone. It can be quite pricey, it is limited by the climate you live in, not for those who don’t like the smell of malt (obviously), etc.

On the other hand, this is a very well done entry from Thierry Mugler and is at least worth a try for a lot of guys.

The whole thing is warm, sweet, and gourmand. Angel Men Pure Malt is an experience all its own and probably one of the best colognes on the market. It’s application is niche, but it does things so utterly well, that I want to spray it on more and more.

There’s just so much going on here, and when it came out, there really wasn’t too much out there that was quite like it.

I doubt it’ll be what you’re looking for in a daily wear, but as a secondary option you break out on occasion, this is a definite yes.

2023 Update: Pure Malt has been discontinued for a while now. So, if you’re looking for this original formulation, you’re going to have to find an old bottle online or try finding a close approximation. The Dua Brand has one available, that I haven’t tried.

Dylan Blue vs Versace Eros Cologne Comparison

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OK, so today, I’m going to do a head to head comparison between two Versace fragrances: Dylan Blue and Eros. These have been two extremely popular scents as of late and so there are a lot of guys wondering which one is the right one for them. Which of these two smells better? Gives the best performance? Please continue reading below for my full take and comparison.

Eros vs. Dylan Blue: Tale of the Tape

Versace Eros

Notes of Eros: mint, green apple, tonka bean, madagascar vanilla, vetiver, Italian lemon

Click here to try: Versace Eros Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.7 Fluid Ounce

My original Versace Eros Review

Dylan Blue

Notes include: black pepper, violet leaf, grapefruit, bergamot, tonka bean, ambrox, fig leaf

Click here to try: VERSACE Pour Homme Sealed Dylan Blue Eau de Toilette, 3.4 Ounce

Read my Full Review of Dylan Blue

Opening

Dylan Blue opens much like a less spicy/smoky version of Aqua Di Gio Profumo. It is a strong initial blast of grapefruit and bergamot, that gives it that citrus/acquatic vibe. After a bit of time it then transforms into something akin to Dior Sauvage, but not quite the same.

It has a similar citrus/ambroxan combo as does Sauvage, but not the spiciness. Plus, the aquatic notes set it apart. Beyond that, Dylan Blue features a really great fig note, in the opening stages.

I think that has become my favorite aspect of wearing this scent, the way the grapefruit and fig notes blend.

Eros, is an absolute monster from the start. The main players at the beginning are the mint, tonka bean, and vanilla. The green apple and lemon provide support and give Eros that juicy/gourmand quality.

Newer bottles of Eros, seem to be more about the lemon note in the opening, than the previous efforts. Maybe it’s just the batches that I got. It’s still nice, but it can come across fairly different. The vanilla, mint, and tonka bean are the best notes, to my mind.

Update: After coming back to even newer batches, Eros EDT really does favor that lemon note early on, nowadays. It’s a bit closer contest between it and Dylan Blue. I’d still give a decision towards Eros, but not by very much

I actually like the start from Dylan Blue and feel that it is one of the cologne’s strongest qualities. However, Versace Eros really makes an impression, and that’s what I’m giving the edge to.

Edge: Eros

Projection

This category isn’t even a contest. The clear edge goes to Eros, without question. Versace Eros is perhaps one of the loudest and most bold fragrances on the market (at least in the mainstream).

That’s one of the reasons, it enjoys such a popularity. However, it can also be a bit much for some folks.

Update: Again, the newer bottles of Eros don’t hit exactly the same way. Still bold and ahead of Dylan Blue, but they’ve taken a step back in terms of power.

Dylan Blue has a fairly strong opening and then fades after about an hour. After that, it’s pretty moderate for the most part, before it becomes a weak skin scent. It’s not terrible but not in the same realm as Eros.

Edge: Eros

Longevity

Again, complete domination. Eros lasts seemingly forever. When I would wear this regularly, a few years back, I could spray in the morning and still detect it towards the late night before showering. It’s a total beast.

Are the latest batches weaker? It’s tough to say, a recent mini of Eros that I purchased didn’t seem to hit the same strength as it used to. I put it up against Eros Flame, and that one lasted forever, while Eros was a notch below. Again, it might just be a bad batch.

Update: It’s around 8-ish hours now. Maybe more, depending on the day.

Dylan Blue is a pretty average performer. I get a solid 5-7 hours of wear from it. Coming back to this fragrance, after a year or so, it pretty consistently hits 6 hours. So, I expect 6-7, but sometimes it’ll quit at 5.

Edge: Eros

Versatility

Dylan Blue gets the nod here, I think. It can be worn year round with no problem, be perfectly fine in a casual environment, and still has the ability to perform in the nightlife.

Since Eros is so strong, it has it’s time and place. I would wear it to the office but limited it to one spray only. This is more of a nightlife powerhouse, than strictly a casual cologne. Add to that, I like it in the cold to moderate temperatures, as I think it gets messy in the heat.

Edge: Dylan Blue

Overall Scent

I like Dylan Blue, I’m just not that into it, though. It’s a pleasant but fairly generic kind of scent and is like an amalgamation of several other popular colognes. That’s not to say it’s bad and you wouldn’t enjoy it, but it’s not that incredible in my eyes.

Blue has a very nice opening act, but it turns into an ambroxan heavy fragrance, without much personality. The fig, light pepper, and citrus top are the peak of its creativity and the enjoyment I get from it.

Versace Eros is a special kind of animal. Yes, it’s insanely popular, but it still has a unique quality that Dylan Blue lacks. It’s not for everyone, but, it not only performs better…it also smells much better than Dylan Blue. That’s why it’s the winner here.

In fact, if you’re looking for Versace fragrances, I’d put the following ahead of Dylan Blue: Man Eau Fraiche, Eros, The Dreamer, and possibly even Pour Homme (depending on my mood).

Update: Yes, I still like Eros more than Dylan Blue. From Versace, I think Eros Parfum is the best of the Eros line now. I’m not really into the Eros formula as much as I was back when it came out in 2012 and the years after. That being said, it’s still a solid pick up. I’ve recently reviewed Greatness by Dua, which is based on the older formula of Eros EDT, and I think that’s a good bet for those who want the classic Eros EDT sort of smell.

Winner: Eros

7 Best David Beckham Colognes for Men

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David Beckham was one of the most popular athletes on the planet for many years. One of his side ventures is creating fragrances along with his wife Victoria, for both men and women. The men’s line offers some very inexpensive choice for guys on a budget and it contains some quite attractive colognes for often under $20. For this list, I have selected seven of what I feel to be the best scents of the lineup.

What are the Best Smelling David Beckham Colognes?

Most Popular Beckham Fragrance

David Beckham Instinct Cologne Spray for Men, 2.5 Fluid Ounce
A light and great blend of citrus and spice notes. Develops into a warm fragrance that is quite appealing for the price. Notes include bergamot, orange, amber, patchouli, pimento.

The opening is definitely a celebration of the citrus notes (bergamot and orange) which are accompanied by some great and somewhat spicy ‘earthy’ aromas. Instinct is a shower fresh sort of fragrance from the start and a while into the wear, amber and vetiver, which gives it a dry feeling.

This is warm woods, citrus, with spicy elements. Very nice and actually fairly unique versus so many other colognes in this price range. Full Review of Instinct

instinct

Smooth Option for Winter

Intimately Beckham By Beckham For Men, Eau De Toilette Spray, 2.5-Ounce Bottle
A bit sweet, smooth, with a hint of spice and a woodsy heart. It’s almost unisex in its presentation and its longevity can be an issue, though, its still a very nice scent.

Intimately Beckham features notes of sandalwood, amber, star anise, and bergamot among others. To me, feels best to be worn in the autumn or winter months.

It has a soft, somewhat powdery warmth, and fresh spice from the star anise and nutmeg notes. While a ‘cheapie’, this Beckham cologne can work well in a variety of situations, including dressed up for an evening. The sandalwood adds a layer of clean smoothness. Review

intimately-beckham-men-edt-50ml-30003492-0-1321522359000

Best Summer Scent by Beckham

The Essence– The Essence is a very clean and great use of grapefruit and pineapple notes, up top. Also, for the price, this is one of the Beckham fragrances which give me very solid performance while I was testing it out.

Essence is best worn in the spring/summer months, and features: lavender, tonka bean, and some greenish violet leaf. Not too complex of a fragrance, but one that smells good, and is easy to wear. The dry down is less of the citrus and starts to stray more towards an earthy woods scent.

I could get about six hour of wear from The Essence on my skin. I found this one to be quite enjoyable, and one that, you could thrown on any day. The Essence Review

Best Aquatic/Sport Fragrance

Beckham Signature By Beckham For Men Edt Spray 2.5 Oz
Another citrus blend, this one doesn’t have the same spiciness as instinct and has more of a casual/playful vibe to it. Signature is the Beckham line’s, sporty aquatic fragrance. Notes include: watermelon, amber, juniper berry, moss, and cypress.

It starts off with a light and juicy watermelon note that is paired with the familiar oceanic saltiness found in fragrances within the genre. It’s smooth and soapy fresh with some underlying woody notes.

A very light scent overall, sort of reminds me of one of the Ferrari colognes, with the watermelon note. Not going to be a powerhouse, but one you can spray on to freshen up and hang out with in casual situations.

signature

Top Spicy Cologne for Him

David Beckham Homme Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 2.5 Ounce
A fresh scent that has a spicy and woody profile with notes like ginger and sichuan pepper leading the way. Underlying that are citrus notes, like grapefruit, which brightens up the composition and is joined by a clean musk and patchouli accord.

David Beckham Homme is a wonderful smelling fragrance with the highlight in my mind being the wood notes and the whiffs of leather that come about during the wear. This one is more on the masculine end and is refreshing while having a moderate sillage. A very nice scent for the price point.

dbhomme

Under the Radar Fresh

David Beckham Inspired By Respect By David Beckham for Men – 3 Oz Edt Spray, 3 Oz– It seems like the newer releases are becoming pretty sparse and they can be difficult to find. Inspired by Respect flew under the radar for me, since its release a few years back.

The price for bottles seems a little high, but I wanted to put it on the list, because it is one of Beckham’s nicer colognes.

Inspired opens up with a clean citrus blend that has a nice dose of lavender. Pretty familiar, but the pineapple note helps to set it apart. The juiciness gives it a water/semi-aquatic profile.

The dry down is woody and a bit of light spice, with the fruit notes still lingering. Not super complex, but worth a shot, if you can get an inexpensive bottle.

Top Newer Release

Refined Woods by David Beckham– After a while of not putting out much, Beckham fragrances have introduced a line of four eau de parfums to the mix. So, while Refined Woods is the one that I’ve experienced, I haven’t gotten to the others…nonetheless, Refined Woods is a very nice cologne.

Basically, these are available in the UK and most of Europe. I want to try Amber Breeze, as that one sounds like it might be a good pick up, also.

The copy describes this colognes like this: “This warm and sensual scent is a celebration of travel and discovery, where the journey is the reward.”

Anyway, refined woods gives you a clean and fresh blend of powdery/creamy notes (tonka bean and orris root) with the usual lavender and a woody base. Up top the fresh spice will be a sage and light cardamom, so things have some energy early on.

The dry down will be woodier, slightly sweeter, a nice use of the vetiver and cedar.

Not a powerful fragrance, nothing super ‘unique’, but honestly…it smells very good for the price which is still quite affordable.