Fragrances

Allure Homme Sport Cologne by Chanel

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Chanel has a long list of flankers in the Allure series. The Allure Homme Sport series even has multiple versions of its own. One, that I have yet to review on the site is the Cologne version, which was released in 2007.

So, I recently grabbed some samples to go ahead and give it the full review. How does it smell? Is Allure Sport Cologne worth a try?

Allure Homme Sport Cologne Overview

Notes include: elemi, cedar, lovage, lemon, grapefruit, vetiver, neroli, and more

Click here to try: Allure Homme Sport Cologne from Chanel

allure sport review

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Chanel describes it: Allure in motion. More than a fragrance, ALLURE HOMME SPORT Cologne is a boost of well-being for the active man — a fresh, invigorating composition like a breath of energy. A generous citrus freshness is subtly heightened by spicy Lovage and Elemi notes and set against a backdrop of Cedar and White Musk.

This one often gets compared to Dior Homme Cologne. That’s a pretty accurate assessment of this version of Allure. I currently have both of these fragrances and that opening act is close to being the same.

The main differences are going to be that Dior Cologne has much more of a cold lemonade sort of aroma. Whereas, Chanel’s Cologne, is a bit warmer.

Secondly, this one has more of a neroli and lovage influence, with a tad less juiciness from the citrus top notes.

Thirdly, the usual Chanel aldehydes are in play, and you do get a resinous spice lingering in the background.

Allure Homme Sport Cologne opens with these juicy citrus notes, neroli, and lovage. Lovage apparently has a floral and slight greenish/celery sort of aroma. Which, when I press my nose to the skin, I can pick up on.

The background does have a bit of a resinous quality from both the lovage and elemi notes. It’s nothing too noticeable, and I’d guess, that most people wouldn’t even gather that unless the were super focused.

So, yeah, like 85-90% the same in the opening as the Dior.

The dry down does begin to separate these two somewhat. Cologne becomes a woodsier and more floral scent, than just the citrus top would suggest.

Cedar starts to play a greater role in the composition. I also get the same vetiver that’s found in Allure Homme Blanche, which also has some similarities to this.

That’s basically it, until the end. Neroli, cedar, vetiver, and the remnants of the other notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage on this one starts out pretty well. In the first fifteen to thirty minutes it will leave a decent scent trail and projects itself well off of the skin. You’ll notice it without question.

But, that is a rather short-lived experience. After an hour or so, this is pretty much a skin scent. Even when I spray the heck out of it, Allure Sport Cologne isn’t going to really go beast mode or stay around strong for too long.

The longevity here is also pretty meh. I get 3-4 hours, which is a shorter duration than Dior Cologne, which isn’t great if that’s your closest comp. Especially, once you start comparing pricing, Dior is usually available from online sellers for more of a discount.

The performance with this one really holds it back. That being said, it does have a spring and summer use case and isn’t super versatile, so spraying a lot won’t really matter. It’d probably still take a while to work through a bottle.

Seasonally, this one is spring and summer. This is of course a more casual or sporty wear for those months. One to wear during the daytime. Not a formal fragrance, but one could get a decent use case out of Cologne, when it gets warm enough.

Overall Impressions of Allure Homme Sport Cologne

Overall, do I like Cologne? I do enjoy the scent itself. Not my favorite thing ever, but I do like a good summer citrus, and this is a fine example.

But, I also don’t like it quite as much as Dior Cologne. With that one, I like the simple lemon and grapefruit blossom aroma, it’s colder and slightly more refreshing to me.

With the Chanel, I also get a pretty weak 3-4 hours of wear. I don’t really expect that much from this type of sporty summer fragrance, but I do want more than that at Chanel prices.

Also, I don’t know that I prefer it to any of the other Allure scents. It’s in the same ballpark, but I’d prefer wearing the others, even Blanche which occupies the same niche. It’s sort of the odd fragrance out from this line.

I know it’s the easy to wear summer version, but Blanche is better than this, and Dior Cologne is cheaper at the very least (and again better, in my opinion).

So, I smell alone, I can recommend this one. On all of the other intangibles? Probably not for most people. Just understand what sort of scent you’re buying with Allure Sport Cologne and don’t expect it to be your main wear for much of the year.

Dune Pour Homme by Dior

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Dune Pour Homme is one that I experienced for the first time many years ago. Sometime in the past year or so, I picked it up again in the form of a travel sprayer decant. I thought that I’d already published my review of it, but I guess not.

So, this is another blast from the past, a fragrance first released in 1997. How does it smell? Is Dune worth a try?

Dune Pour Homme Overview

Notes include: fig, sandalwood, cassis, vanilla, tonka bean, basil, sage, rose, mignonette, cedar

My Full Review

Here’s how Dior describes Dune: Original and harmonious, Dune pour Homme takes its inspiration from breezy seaside escapes. Its composition associates fresh, woody and oceanic notes in a fragrance that is serene and in harmony with nature.

I’m not sure when this scent got discontinued (Update: it is apparently back or has been limited to certain markets. So, you can actually get Dune fairly regularly now). Nor do I know when my decant of it is from. So, who knows if any reformulation took place that effected its performance?

The scent itself, I don’t think so, as that smells exactly how it is sounds based on the notes list.

The opening act is really fresh with basil and sage, coming out of the gate hard. There is a light fruity cassis note that joins, but never feels too pronounced on my skin. It just sort of hangs around for most of the wear.

Under that fresh spice? Fig. Lots of it. Also, mignonette, which based on what I’ve read is giving it that greenish-watery-violet smelling aroma. I like it, more so than the usual violet leaf note that gets stuck into a ton of fragrances.

The basil and sage’s dominance hangs around for a little bit. But, this one will go from more herbal/green/fruity to a warm and dry fresh woods.

That fig, cedar, and sandalwood really take shape. The sweetness here is very light and faint. Sure, vanilla and tonka are there, but not all that noticeable to me. After the first hour, not even on the radar.

I like Dune a lot at this stage. The remaining sage note gives it an enjoyable freshness when paired to that of the woody notes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this stuff is light and airy. Again, maybe that didn’t used to be the case. This batch doesn’t really leave a scent trail and isn’t going to project too far from the skin.

It is a nice scent bubble. 1-4 feet for a majority of the wear. Dune isn’t a cologne that is going to overpower or bomb out a room.

That being said, I can still pick it up on my skin around six hours later. It’s passable, just know what you’re getting into with this Dior.

Seasonally, spring through early autumn. I like this in moderate temperatures and the warmer air. I really want to be outside when I have this on. I don’t live in a desert area, but I could enjoy wearing this around a place like Las Vegas on certain days.

Dune Pour Homme is a daytime fresh woody fragrance. Not a nightlife or romantic wear. But, within that daytime arena, this one is pretty versatile.

It isn’t totally stuffy nor childish. It can work casually or in a more formal setting. Not like tuxedo level, but it’d be fine in an office.

Overall Impressions of Dune

Overall, do I like Dune Pour Homme? Yes, I do. It has a style that is unique and yet feels timeless. I don’t know of another men’s fragrance that smells exactly like this. This Dior is such a departure from the other colognes out on the market today.

It evokes the sandy dry air of the desert, but where it just begins, and not too far off from the sea. I dig these sorts of scents, that give you visions of a specific place you’d want to wear it.

Fig is one of my favorite underutilized notes. The stages of freshness, green herbal, and then warm air and dry woods are great.

The performance? Not so much. Maybe the initial bottles had more power than this. But, this batch is pretty darn airy. When you pick it up, it’s beautiful. But, a lot of the time you won’t even notice.

As a skin scent or a 1-2 foot radius aroma, Dune Pour Homme will stick around for about six hours. Again, not great, but not horrific. If I had a full bottle, I’d be spraying a ton to really try and get the full effect.

As it stands, this Dior is discontinued. It’s a great and unique 1990s fragrance, but not a must have for most people. Sure, if you find a bottle for cheap, give it a try. However, unless you’re a collector, you probably don’t need to chase any super expensive bottles on the internet.

Though, as of now, they seem to still be under $100. So, it’s not too big of a gamble.

Tom Ford Noir Extreme vs. Parfum

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Noir Extreme has become an absolute classic fragrance from Tom Ford. It’s one of my own personal favorites, that I wear quite a lot of. So, the release of a Parfum version in 2022 was something that I looked forward too and I grabbed a bottle ASAP.

But, how does it stack up to the original? Which Noir Extreme smells better? Lasts longer?

Tale of the Tape: Noir Extreme vs Noir Extreme Parfum

Noir Extreme

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 Review: Noir Extreme

Noir Extreme Parfum

Notes include: Shimoga ginger, cardamom, amber, tonka bean, guaiac wood, leather

Click here to try: Noir Extreme Parfum at Sephora

My Full Review: Noir Extreme Parfum

noir extreme parfum review

Opening

The opening of Noir Extreme is to my nose, a floral spice blend. Neroli and orange blossom serve as the initial floral notes, with a light citrus juiciness.

But, the spice is a blend of nutmeg, saffron, and cardamom. The trio when paired together give Noir Extreme a very attractive intensity.

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, with the overall Kulfi dessert accord. There is a pistachio note as a part of that and it really comes through with the vanilla about 10-15 minutes into the wear.

This opening act has a fantastic smell. It is a great gourmand aroma, with ambery warmth, and a nice balance of floral notes.

Noir Extreme Parfum starts off with the citrus and neroli notes, like the original. But, the overall floral aroma doesn’t have the same level of strength in the mix.

White florals outside of that opening neroli, aren’t a major factor in Parfum. Though, I get more citrus with this opening than its predecessor. Sparkling with a warm spice with ginger and cardamom.

You also get guaiac wood, which gives this one a rougher, drier, and somewhat smoky aroma versus what you get in Extreme.

Which is better? It’s pretty close to me. There is a lot that I like in Parfum, particularly the citrus notes. But, on the whole I enjoy the sweeter aspects, nutmeg and saffron gives Extreme a different smell than Parfum.

Edge: Noir Extreme

Projection

I came in expecting that the Parfum version would really step up the sillage when compared to the original. But, they’re kind of the same. Actually, the original has better projection than Parfum.

It’s not by much, but that’s been my experience so far.

Each of them has a strong start with a solid scent trail behind it. But, the original gives me a bit more.

Update: Every time I’ve tested this out or worn either of them, I still get the same experience. Noir Extreme Parfum may be denser, but it doesn’t project itself any further than my bottle of Noir Extreme. They may be about equal, but it still seems like Extreme has an edge.

Edge: Noir Extreme

noir extreme review

Longevity

Things actually flip in terms of longevity.

With Noir Extreme, I get between 6.5-8 hours of wear, on my skin. I’ve seen some people complain about poor performance, but it’s always been good in my experience. Not elite, just above average.

With Parfum, I can get up to 9 hours of wear. Again, these two are very close with the performance, but the greater concentration helps Parfum with the longevity.

Edge: Parfum

Versatility

The versatility is about even. You might say that Noir Extreme is the more unisex option, but that’s probably the only real distinction.

Both are built for the autumn and winter months. Not necessarily for a formal occasion, but semi-formal is fine. Nights out. Some daily wear, etc.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these fragrances is better?

I like the additions in Noir Extreme Parfum. I like the spice, the smokiness, leather, and dirtier feel that you get with this newer formulation. It’s warmer and has a nice citrus touch in the opening.

Nonetheless, I don’t personally think that it exceeds the original. Noir Extreme is still one of my favorite scents and topping it wasn’t going to be easy.

The sweetness, the amber, and that pistachio and vanilla kulfi aroma are all selling points. It’s a delightful dessert fragrance with a masculine edge.

I even like the greater floral depth with Noir Extreme.

The performance is about even. So, Parfum doesn’t even blow the original away in that department.

You might go with Parfum if you want more of the vanilla/tonka bean blend, leather, and smokiness. It’s a nice scent, that I’ll be using, but it doesn’t do enough to elevate itself past Noir Extreme.

I actually have been using both of these together. 2 sprays of Noir Extreme for every 1 spray of Parfum. Creates a different experience.

Winner: Noir Extreme

7 Best Smelling Cartier Colognes for Men

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Cartier is a world famous jeweler. However, it is also a very good fragrance designer for both men and women. For this list, I have selected seven of those colognes for guys, and what I consider to be the best of the bunch.

The brand doesn’t seem to have too many new releases in comparison to most of the other major designers out there. Jewelry is their main focus still.

They do have a wide variety of choices, though, some of which have gotten discontinued and more difficult to find over the years.  As always, each scent is linked to its page on Amazon for both ease of purchase and further information.

What Are the Top Cartier Perfumes for Him?

Citrus Clean 

Eau De Cartier By Cartier For Men and Women, Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.75-Ounce Bottle
This is a unisex fragrance, so it won’t be a good choice for guys who want something wholly masculine. However, this is a good and light choice for those who like a citrus based fragrance that settles down into something more earthy.

Eau de Cartier opens up with it lemon and bergamot, that is joined by the fresh spiciness of coriander.  From there, you get lavender and violet, giving it the floral edge. Cedar sits at the base for a touch of woody freshness. Clean and one that is extremely easy to wear.

eaucartier

Honey Woods 

L’Envol de Cartier Eau de Toilette Spray, 2.7 oz.– I’m adding this one to the list because it is great. Pretty unique and simple in its presentation, L’Envol, features top notes of ambrosia and citrus.

Beyond that, the thick warmth of honey comes through to balance out the initial citrus aroma. It’s a sweet fragrance with a powdery finish and base notes of Gaiac wood and musk. Actually isn’t as heavy of a scent as you might think and can indeed venture outside of the winter months.

Not too complex, but one that might have a limited audience, as it is a floral and sweet cologne…while still being entirely masculine.

Most Popular Cartier Fragrance

Declaration By Cartier For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 100 ml
This is one is much more manly. It has a spicy scent to it yet also woodsy notes and some bitter orange.

That note is similar to Terre D’Hermes (which I dislike) but this one is done much better in my opinion, as the orange and presentation isn’t overwhelming and off putting.

Declaration is deep and spicy, right from the jump, and there is dry smokiness provided by birch. Cardamom, caraway, and pepper are all here, which can be off-putting for some.

However, there is still the softer side with floral notes, including neroli. An interesting fragrance and definitely an original from decades past.

declaration

Warm, Woody, and Spicy

Cartier Pasha De Cartier Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Fluid Ounce
Masculine, fresh, a bit sweet, and a crispy spice. Pasha De Cartier is a great fragrance that projects well and lasts long, especially in the colder months.

Oakmoss and mint, give it a dry freshness, and then the same caraway note is here as it was in Declaration.

The scent warms up, while retaining its green outdoorsy depth, and the coolness of the mint. When you hit the base notes, Pasha becomes quite woody, and laden with lavender. Nice development.  Notes include: mint, citrus, amber, caraway.

pasha

A New Declaration

Declaration EDP– It’s definitely a flanker of the original, with plenty of overlap, but this one ramps up the spice, particularly early on.

Cinnamon is massive in the opening act, which is nice for me, as I love that note. You also still get ginger and a cardamom note. Cardamom will become more heavy in the mix, once the other two have burned off.

So, yes, this is a warm and spicy sort of cologne. Yet, you will still get enough freshness in the blend to keep it light. The black tea note here is nice, the aroma feels somewhat smoky, but it’s a clean spicy blend that enhances aspects of the original Declaration.

Less woodsy and floral in comparison, while still retaining its similarities.

Top Springtime Pick

Roadster by Cartier for Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3-Ounces
A fragrance which features notes of vetiver, mint, bergamot, vanilla, and patchouli. Roadster is a very ‘green’ type of fragrance, with mint as its main note.

It’s got a smooth lightness from the vanilla note and the vetiver gives it a masculine quality. Rather unique overall, but simple.

The opening is the mint with a spritz of the bergamot citrus and vanilla sweetness hanging in the background. As it develops further, the patchouli breaks through, giving Roadster more of an outdoorsy quality.

Finally, you get the vetiver note, which brings things all together and Roadster has an almost gourmand edible quality.

Patchouli is often used to give fragrances a candy-like or baked goods smell. Here when paired with the vanilla, vetiver, and mint; you do get a somewhat chocolatey vibe during some of the wear. The performance on Roadster is solid, but it isn’t a projection beast, by any means.

roadster

Best Cartier for Winter

Cartier Santos De Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce
Throwback to the 1980s. On the opposite end of the spectrum from Eau De Cartier, Santos, won’t be mistaken for a unisex fragrance at all. Spicy and woodsy with notes of amber, pepper, and sandalwood.

Santos starts off with a bit of a different tone, than what it’ll eventually settle down into. There is citrus at the top paired with juniper, along with prominent basil, and lavender. It’s got a upbeat and bright freshness to it, that invigorates.

As it dries down, there is a smoky woody aroma, led by sandalwood and the pepper/basil combo. The spice here is prevalent, but not annoyingly in your face, because it gets subdued by the trio of sandalwood/lavender/amber.

Since this is an older cologne, all of the bottles out there won’t smell the same. Reformulations happen, so the exact composition, may be slightly different depending on what bottle you get.

santos

This is my current list of the top Cartier scents for guys. I will periodically come back and update the page, as newer fragrances are released, that I feel are deserving of a spot. As of now, this should get you started, since there are colognes which will suit almost anyone’s personal style.

Ranking the Best Spicebomb Fragrances

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Spicebomb is the signature men’s line from Viktor & Rolf, the counterpart to the vast array of Flowerbomb releases on the women’s side of things. Since the release of Spicebomb EDT, the designer has steadily released different flankers to capitalize on that initial popularity.

But, now that we have so many options to choose from by V&R, which are the best? I am  going to use this page to keep a running tab on my favorites by ranking and to link my full reviews, as I release them.

Ranking My Favorite Spicebomb Colognes

Note: I’ll update the list once I’ve gotten to try out the new Metallic Musk flanker release.

The Top Spot

Spicebomb Extreme– This one is still the best Spicebomb in terms of how it smells. However, it might not be the best pick for everyone.

Extreme is very much a colder weather sort of fragrance and it can really be a massive tobacco and vanilla scent at times. So, if that’s not your thing you might want to go for something like Night Vision instead.

Extreme opens with that heavy tobacco, sweet vanilla, some lavender, and a touch of spice. Again, it’s not overly spicy, in comparison. Instead it’s smooth, warm, and sweet.

This fragrance is mainly about the tobacco note, more than any spices, which seem to just play backup. Tobacco, vanilla, spices, and saffron/lavender. Has this sweetish, somewhat gourmand quality.

Spicebomb Extreme has great performance and is well worth checking out. Spicebomb Extreme review

Original Appeal

Spicebomb EDT– Currently, the original is basically neck and neck to me with Night Vision EDP. I could easily swap these two on the list.

Spicebomb opens with that spice going strong already and a pretty noticeable mix of grapefruit and bergamot.

Beyond that, pink pepper comes through with the cinnamon blend in a pretty even split at first. Feels like a 60/40 split to me, but cinnamon will increasingly take over.

As it develops, that sharp spice blast settles down and gets smoothed out by the heart notes emerging. I get plenty of saffron and vetiver, which gives Spicebomb more maturity compared to that youthfully energetic opening.

Leather slips in very lightly during the middle, adding to the smoothness and character of this cologne.

The performance isn’t quite as good as it used to be, but still a useful scent to have in the rotation. Spicebomb review

Cool Vision

Spicebomb Night Vision EDP– Night Vision EDP is one that I liked wearing a lot, but it was never a complete love. Far and away better than the EDT version, though. Just a better balance and mix.

Nightvision EDP kicks off woodier and with cooler spiciness than the original or others in this line. I get some lemon essence and red pepper up top that gives it familiarity to the EDT, though this one isn’t as sweet to my nose.

The spices here seem to be a black and red pepper blend. But the clary sage note is what really jumps out to me after the opening starts to fade. It’s fresh and cool but also gets smoothed out by the woody base notes.

The wood is fir, but this is fir balsam, giving it that benzoin-like smell.

From here, it’s pretty straightforward. The spiciness fades and it becomes more about aromatic freshness, which lets some of the sweetness peek back through. Night Vision EDP review

The performance is pretty good, not great. The scent is good, not great. But, it gives you a cooler sort of fresh spice versus the more in your face spiciness of the original. Night Vision eau de parfum review

A Sweeter Spice

Spicebomb Infrared EDT– I bought a bottle of Infrared when it came out. I wear it on occasion, but not that often anymore. The red berry and tobacco mix with cinnamon is really bold and can be quite sweet.

I don’t think the eau de parfum really improved anything over this initial Infrared release. They’re about the same in terms of how much I enjoy them or if I want a leather note (the EDP).

Apparently this one has been discontinued. So, if you want to try Infrared EDT, you’ll probably have to find it online before the remaining stocks gets too expensive. Infrared EDT review

Second Infrared

Spicebomb Infrared EDP– Again, not really any better than the EDT, in my opinion. Some may prefer this, but to me they’re about the same in terms of my enjoyment wearing each of these.

This is a bit fresher and feels smoother in the dry down with its leather note. The leather is blended well and isn’t completely taking over the composition. It’s good, but I don’t need a bottle, since I already have EDT.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s near the bottom of the list for me, while still being a pretty good cologne overall.

More Leather

Spicebomb Dark Leather– Well, if you like leather but don’t want to go with the Infrared option, Viktor & Rolf came out with Spicebomb Dark Leather.

I’ve only tried this once, so, I don’t have a complete review on it. But, for now, this is where I’m putting this Spicebomb on the list. I like it, but wasn’t something that really grabbed my attention.

I remember it having a peppery start, with more of a softer cinnamon accompanying the leather and tobacco notes. Still, this one is more leather heavy than Infrared EDP, some nice spice mixture.  Yet, it didn’t seem all that powerful in terms of performance.

Another Night

Spicebomb Night Vision EDT– Night Vision EDT is my least favorite. The eau de parfum is much better, if you want this same sort of style, and every other cologne on the list is better if you don’t.

With this one, I tend to really notice the sage and geranium notes. For whatever reason, those two are really heightened on my skin.

The opening is some light grapefruit, spice, and tonka bean along with the aforementioned notes. The scent has some high points, but is fairly forgettable overall. Also, the performance isn’t great, I only get around 5 hours of wear from Night Vision EDT.