Fragrances

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.

Invictus Victory vs. Elixir Comparison

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Invictus as a series keeps rolling along. Now, the flankers are getting their own flankers, and have little to do with the original scent. Invictus Victory is one that has been popular over the past few years, and they’ve put out its flanker, Victory Elixir. I’ve tested and reviewed both of these colognes, but which one smells better? Lasts longer? Is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Invictus Victory vs. Elixir

Invictus Victory

Notes include: pink pepper, lemon, vanilla, amber, tonka bean, olibanum, and lavender

Click here to try: Invictus Victory

My Full Review: Invictus Victory

invictus victory review

Invictus Victory Elixir

Notes include: cardamom, black pepper, bergamot oil, lavender, incense, patchouli, vanilla, amber, and tonka bean

Click here to try: Elixir

My Full Review: Victory Elixir

Opening

Invictus Victory starts out really reminding me of the Pure XS line that Paco Rabanne had put out a handful of years before this. Victory has a lemon note up top, with pink pepper, and a dose of incense.

Sort of smoky, but not overwhelmingly so. Up top, it’s a bit of that lemon with a spiciness and smokiness. As it moves on, Victory will become more about the vanilla and amber notes.

Meanwhile, Elixir starts with a more immediate use of the vanilla and amber. The amber is more powerful here, with a distinct resinous quality to it. Pink pepper has been replaced by a spice mix of black pepper and cardamom.

What’s interesting about Elixir is that it gets sweeter, after a few minutes. It gets more of a tonka bean influence and the impression of coconut. Now, it doesn’t actually have coconut, but it does smell a good deal like it.

Which is better?

I really enjoy both opening acts here. The hint of lemon in Victory is one of my favorite aspects, but it is too short-lived.

With Elixir, it’s a bit more complex early on and the best parts seem to stick around longer. I’ll give it the opening.

Edge: Elixir

Projection

Both of these are above average with the projection and have the ability to leave a scent trail in your wake. Neither are super heavy feeling, but the performance is there.

While Invictus Victory is above average, it wasn’t massive projector when I tested it out. It has a very strong burst at the opening. Then, it becomes rather moderate for the rest of the way.

Victory Elixir is quite powerful. I’m sure it’ll be even better with a full bottle. This one leaps off of the skin and stays at a high level for most of the wear. Pretty much a beast.

Elixir takes this category.

Edge: Elixir

Longevity

Both of these fragrances don’t disappoint when it comes to how long they last. But, there is a clear winner between them.

With Victory, I got in the 8-9 hour range with it during testing. Not amazing, but well above average.

Elixir, was in the 9-11 hour range. It might actually be able to go beyond the higher end of that range for the right person, with a full sized sprayer.

Both Invictus Victory releases have good performances, however.

Edge: Elixir

Versatility

These two are about the same in their use case. Both are best in autumn and winter. Both are suited more towards younger men. Both are attractive fragrances that will get plenty of play in the nightlife.

No real distinction.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these fragrances do I prefer?

Honestly, if I’m just going off the smell of each alone, it’s basically a tie. Two of the best releases from the Invictus line.

The opening and transition into the middle, is when they are most distinct from one another. I slightly prefer Elixir during that stage of the wear. Not a huge gap, but if I have to choose, I’ll roll with it.

But, the performance and slightly more unique formula gives Elixir the nod. It’s a lot stronger and gives you a few more hours of wear. Yes, that coconut-like aroma gives it shades of Le Beau Le Parfum, but I think this Invictus is better.

If you liked the original Victory, you’ll almost certainly like Elixir too. Doesn’t mean that you need both, though.

Winner: Elixir

Bleu de Chanel Parfum vs. Dior Sauvage EDP

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In this entry of the men’s fragrance comparisons, we are going to take a closer look at two very popular fragrance names: Bleu de Chanel vs. Sauvage. Naturally, each of these fragrances has three flanker scents, two of which I am going to compare today. I selected Sauvage EDP, as I think that it is the best of the Sauvage lineup.

If you want Sauvage Parfum, there is my review, of that scent. How does Sauvage EDP compare versus Bleu de Chanel Parfum? Which has the better performance? Which smells better? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape

Sauvage EDP

Notes include: nutmeg, bergamot, ambroxan, vanilla absolute, lavender, Sichuan pepper, anise

Click here to try: Sauvage by Dior Eau de Parfum Spray 100ml

Read my original review: Sauvage EDP

Bleu de Chanel Parfum

Notes include: sandalwood, cedar, lemon, lavender, mint, bergamot, tonka bean, amber, geranium

Click here to try: BLEU DE C H A N E L PARFUM, 3.4 oz./ 100 mL

Read my Review: Bleu de Chanel Parfum

Opening

Bleu de Chanel Parfum opens up with the usual BdC citrus notes: lemon, bergamot, and lime. However, in this version, the citrus isn’t as sharp and is tempered by the woody notes.

The wood notes of sandalwood and cedar, are ever present during the wear, but the opening also has a fresh mint note. A bit later, the lavender starts to emerge. It’s citrus, fresh, woody, and a bit herbal.

It’s very similar to the others in the series, just with a different weighting of the ingredients and more woodiness.

Sauvage EDP comes with the usual ambroxan note, a smoky vanilla note, and lavender. It’s warm, clean, and has a lot less of the lavender than the original Sauvage. The bergamot, up top is lighter, and then you get spicy pepper later on in the wear.

But, that Sichuan pepper will share duties with both anise and nutmeg, which allows it to come across less harsh and more balanced than EDT.

Which is better? I really enjoy both of them and how they start off, for different reasons. In the end, I think I prefer the Chanel fragrance, a bit more. I love its depth and complexity. It is refined and smells really nice, up top.

Edge: BdC Parfum 

Projection

Bleu de Chanel Parfum starts off with a pretty strong sillage, in the opening act. Then, it tempers down, by quite a bit. It’s noticeable but not super powerful from far away.

When it transitions to its more woody phase, that’s when it doesn’t leave the same scent trail or project off of the skin to the same extent.

Overall, Parfum is pretty moderate once that initial citrus blast has faded away a bit.

Sauvage EDP is a beast. For me, it is a complete powerhouse, and easily outdoes the sillage of Bleu. It definitely has a greater strength than the original Sauvage, also.

Not only that, it sustains itself at a higher level for longer before it actually moderates. The Sauvage uses heavier notes, so it’s not really too much of a surprise that it takes this category.

Edge: Sauvage EDP

Longevity

When it comes to performance, neither of these fragrances, will let you down. Both of them, will go for over 10 hours, on my skin.

Yes, Sauvage is more powerful, but the length of time worn overall is equal with Bleu. Sauvage EDP might have a slight edge here, as I can sometimes get more wear out of it, but I’m going to call this a tie.

Parfum is lighter than Sauvage EDP, but it sticks around well.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Again, these two are on about the same wavelength, in terms of when they can be worn. I’d probably avoid each, on the absolute hottest days of summer, but they are good at other times. Maybe the citrus of the Chanel gives it a slightly better use case in the warmer months.

Both of them, are best in the autumn/winter. They can be worn at the office, casually, or for a night out. No trouble with either.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

For me, this is a pretty close call. I don’t think the original Sauvage EDT, can stand up to the Bleu lineup, but the EDP has that ability. Dior took what was great about Sauvage and made it better, and also, took away the more unpleasant aspects of it.

I love the ambroxan and vanilla. The smokiness and the emergence of the more varied spice, in the EDP, as it’s no longer just about Sichuan pepper. You also get anise and nutmeg. The performance is also enhanced and is outstanding, overall.

If I had to choose between these two, I would ultimately pick Bleu de Chanel Parfum. It is refined, smooth, and the sandalwood note is utterly perfect.

Parfum is warm, deep, and dark. You get a great blend of wood, with a zesty citrus profile. It’s dry, fresh, with an herbal/mint aroma up top. Not as strong as Sauvage, but a bit better.

Bleu Parfum is a more low key fragrance to wear, overall. As such, if you want something with some boldness and that Sauvage style of fragrance, go with that. I still think it’s a really good choice.

Honestly, if I had to rank Sauvage and Bleu de Chanel fragrances, my top 3 is: 1. BdC EDP 2. BdC Parfum 3. Sauvage EDP.

So, I’d actually go with Bleu de Chanel EDP, which is similar enough to Parfum. However, you get more of the citrus notes. But, in this head to head, the winner is Parfum.

You might consider getting the Chanel and one of the attempted dupes of Dior Sauvage for cheap. That way, two bottles for not that much more than one. I don’t think any of the attempted knockoffs of Bleu de Chanel have really nailed the essence of Parfum, as of yet.

Winner: Bleu de Chanel Parfum

Drakkar Essence by Guy Laroche

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Keeping up with my recent burst of fragrance reviews, it is time to turn my attention to an offering from Guy Laroche. I saw a bottle of this while shopping in Target and noticed Cam Newton on the cardboard display (update: this original review was back when Target still sold fragrances).

I’m not that big a fan of Drakkar Noir (just a personal taste…many people love it), although I appreciate its impact in the fragrance world and how big it was in the 1980s.

It just never excited me all that much. However, I figured that I’d give Drakkar Essence a try and see if I liked it. How does Essence stack up? Is it worth a purchase?

What does Drakkar Essence Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, musk, lavender, grapefruit, tonka bean, woods

Click here to try: Guy Laroche Drakkar Essence Eau de Toilette Splash, 3.4 Ounce 

My Full Review

It’s kind of funny that I tried out Drakkar Essence at about the same time that I tested out The Essence by David Beckham. Not only did these two scents share the same name but also lavender and grapefruit are ingredients in both.

So, even before I knew the contents of Drakkar, I was struck by how much both of these colognes resemble one another. The difference comes in where the Beckham scent is more citrus/aquatic, Drakkar Essence is kept warm and mildly spicy by the musk and mint, though still retaining an aquatic feel.

I actually don’t detect that much of a mint influence, it’s definitely there, but I get mostly the grapefruit and musk notes. I do like this cologne, even if it isn’t terribly unique or anything.

The opening does seem to stray more toward the grapefruit end of things, with that mint and sage freshness, sitting underneath that.

Another fragrance, I’ll have to talk about in regards to Essence, is Drakkar Noir. This new release has very little do to with the 1980s classic from Guy Laroche. Lavender, mint, and wood is about it. They don’t smell alike in the slightest, though.

Essence is completely enjoyable after a few minutes when it has had some time to settle on the skin.  It becomes a smooth and fresh scent highlighted by the emergence of the lavender note to go along the other aforementioned notes.

In the end, the mint begins to peak out a bit more, lavender and musk flank it, and there is the remnants of the citrus. Not very complex. Smooth and spicier in the dry down.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it starts off rather strong before settling into a moderate fragrance. I got pretty good longevity out of Drakkar Essence also. I took a shower and scrubbed with body wash and could still pick some up on my skin. So yeah, no problems there.

Coming back to this scent for a second time, I found that it lasted on my skin for about 7 hours. That’s good enough, for most wears. Not a total workhorse, but very serviceable.

Seasonally, this will absolutely work anytime. I will give it lots of points for its versatility. It holds up well in the warmer weather and doesn’t feel out of place in the wintertime.

Drakkar Essence can be used as a daily wear or even a subtle nighttime fragrance. It’s simplicity and low key vibe, make it an ideal choice for an all-around type of cologne. It’s by no means amazing, but its usefulness and performance are indeed, its strengths.

Overall Impression of Drakkar Essence

Overall, is Essence worth a purchase? I like it. It’s pleasant. However, it doesn’t really stand out to me. I guess it’s a buy because it is a nice fragrance and not very expensive. Drakkar Essence isn’t a scent which will blow you away but it is quite serviceable and sometimes that’s all you need.

The grapefruit, musk, and minty opening is solid. I actually like the latter stages with the lavender, mint, and musk coming through more.

This isn’t a bad buy if you want something simple and straightforward. I’ve seen bottles for super cheap, as of late, so it may well be worth trying out for some guys.

Update: Everything about it is decent. Coming back to this one years later, I did get a bit more sage in the opening, this time around. Not around very long, but nice. Really, grapefruit and mint really kick early. It’s a bit better than I remember, just not anything that draws me in entirely.

Fresh, musky, lavender in the dry down. Bright and energetic in that opening, more of a clean and almost soapy finish to it. If under $30, it’s a fair option. Assuming, you have a strict budget and cannot go higher.

Le Male Terrible by Jean Paul Gaultier

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Today, we have review of another Jean Paul Gautier flanker fragrance: Le Male Terrible. This take on the 1990s classic cologne, Le Male, was released in 2010. I have tested it out and will present, how it smells, what are the notes, how it performs, when it can be worn, and if it is actually worth a buy.

What does Le Male Terrible Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, grapefruit, amber, lavender, pink pepper, vetiver

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Terrible Eau De Toilette Extreme Spray, 2.5 Ounce

My Full Review

So, the opening of Le Male Terrible is very similar to the original Le Male. Immediately, you get the vanilla and lavender notes, and it conjures up thoughts of the first release in this series. However, the mint note is noticeably missing and instead you get a mix of grapefruit and pink pepper, in Terrible.

The pink pepper and grapefruit provide a warm and bright aroma in contrast to the cold/fresh/spicy element that the mint note would provide (I actually think that there is an unlisted bit of mint in here, just not as much).

It seems more subdued and smoother than the original. It also lacks cardamom and cinnamon, which makes it even less spicy. It does have a bit of a fresh kick from the pink pepper and later vetiver, but it’s not a particularly spicy scent.

As it dries down, the vetiver comes out some more and adds a certain dry freshness to the composition of this Gaultier (best colognes). Mostly, though, I get amber, lavender, pink pepper, and the vanilla note for the rest of the way.

The amber is the base and the rest of the notes play within its confines. The strongest notes for the dry down are going to be the lavender and vanilla.

This one leans much more toward vanilla than lavender, which is a reversal of the original Le Male.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Le Male Terrible, isn’t too heavy. The sillage is more moderate, probably not as strong as the original, and definitely not as intense as Ultra Male. Overall, it will be noticed, but won’t overpower.

It can seem much lighter than it actually is, as I will catch whiffs of it randomly throughout the day, which I cannot say the same for with a lot of actually ‘weak’ colognes.

 

I’d put the longevity to about 6-7 hours, on my skin. It’s pretty much in line with the current bottles of the original. Not bad, but not elite in the slightest.

Seasonally, yes, it fits in with the cold weather predecessor of the Le Male lineup. However, it also has an ability to fit in during most of the rest of the year. Perhaps, Terrible wouldn’t be the best choice for the hottest and most humid days of summer, but it’s fine any other time.

It’s a versatile fragrance, that can be worn casually, at school/work, or for a night out. It’s not overwhelming, so it’s a safe bet pretty much anywhere you’d like to wear Le Male Terrible to.

Overall Impressions of Le Male Terrible

Overall, do I like Le Male Terrible? Yes, it’s a nice fragrance, that I’d put on par or close to it with the original Le Male. It’s not as good as Ultra Male, but it’s a really solid choice.

I do believe it has been discontinued, but you can still pick up bottles online. It is a fresh and straightforward take on the familiar original cologne, it performs well enough, and has good versatility.

The best scent on the market? No, but a nice option for everyday wear. It doesn’t do anything spectacularly well, but it is an enjoyable cologne to wear.

Update: Coming back to this one, Terrible really was one of the better releases from the Le Male series thus far. That’s not too surprising since it took so many cues from the original, but changed enough to give it a personality of its own. 

It’s possibly top 5 in the series. I’d include Airlines in that mix, Le Parfum, and I have yet to get a hold of Elixir (but it’s getting great reviews thus far. If not fifth, then, at worst a few places back. 

As of this update, it’s still around. But, it is getting scarce more than a decade after its release. Still don’t consider it a must have, so, I wouldn’t reach too high on the price.