Fragrances

Light Blue Pour Homme by D&G

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After writing hundreds and hundreds of reviews on this site, I’ve noticed that I skipped over or forgot about doing reviews on plenty of men’s colognes, that have been really popular. One of these scents, is Light Blue Pour Homme by Dolce & Gabbana, which I haven’t tried out in more than a few years by now.

As such, I got a hold of a new vial of the stuff, to try out the latest formulation and give it a proper review. Please continue reading below for my updated thoughts, on this best selling summertime scent.

What does Light Blue Pour Homme Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, grapefruit, mandarin orange, pepper, oak moss, juniper, musk, rosemary, rosewood, incense

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 6.7 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Light Blue opens up with a blast of fresh citrus, mostly the bergamot and grapefruit, with a hint of the mandarin orange rounding things out. From the start, this one is bright and upbeat, and immediately brings to mind summer days.

Beyond the citrus notes, there’s is some spice provided by the pepper and an herbal element of rosemary. Very similar style to the Acqua di Gio line, but they are still distinct from one another.

After 10 or so minutes, the base notes begin to come out more. Incense is quite noticeable, it doesn’t create a giant cloud of smokiness, but does create a light envelopment of the citrus notes.

The Brazilian rosewood is not overly prominent, but instead holds steady in the background, giving Light Blue a solid grounding to base itself from. There is some dried oak moss and musk, though, neither are all that strong.

More of just a light essence in the background. It all comes together as a very crisp and light fragrance. There isn’t too much development from this cologne, it’s pretty linear, and gets right to the point of what you’re going to get from the wear.

Citrus, pepper/rosemary, with a dry and woody base. Simple, is a good thing here, you don’t really want a heavy and complicated summer scent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Pour Homme is a light to moderate scent. It’s not weak in my opinion, at least with this current formulation, and projects pretty darn well for around five hours before it winds down. The sillage on these current bottles is definitely passable and not at all ‘bad’.

Has it lost a step? Maybe. Though, I’m not sure if it’s my memory thinking that it used to be more powerful or an actual reformulation.

The longevity is also decent, it’ll carry along for 6-8 hours, depending on what the day is like. That’s actually good for a summertime citrus fragrance like this. It’s not elite, by any means, but this D&G will get the job done.

Seasonally, I like it best in the summer or the warmer months of spring. However, I’ve been testing it out so far in the winter, and it actually feels quite nice. Mostly, I’ll use it as a change of pace from the heavier and more wintertime only fragrances in my collection.

Light Blue has very good versatility, because it is super safe and inoffensive. You can wear it to work, casually, or out at night during the summer months.

Personally, I would wear something else for the nightlife, when its cold outside, but this could do the job when it’s simply too humid for a heavier scent. Light Blue Pour Homme is an attractive fragrance, so, you can’t really go wrong with it. Especially, if you are a younger guy.

It’s pretty close to being a jack of all trades. If you don’t need more formal or very ‘serious’ sorts of fragrances.

Overall Impressions of D&G Light Blue

Overall, do I like Light Blue Pour Homme? I do. It’s a simple fragrance that enjoys a mass appeal and women seem to enjoy it. It’s kind of an entry level cologne for guys just getting into fragrance and want a versatile value fragrance.

It’s not amazing to me, but I still do get enjoyment from this Dolce fragrance. And really, the entire Light Blue line.

The citrus notes are fresh and have a bit of sour lemonade quality, while the background notes add bits of themselves to the composition without being distracting.

This one has been so wildly popular for so long that it has become commonplace. You’re not going to stand out as unique with Light Blue on, but you aren’t going to choke out a room with it either. It really is a no brainer, easy reach, and mass appeal cologne.

I’m not big on the pepper and herbal aspects, which isn’t terrible here, but I prefer the citrus. Especially, on a warm day.

Personally, I prefer Light Blue Eau Intense to this one. I like the extra power and clean aquatic vibe that it puts off. It seems to be a toss up whether or not guys prefer the original or the intense version. Here’s my comparison: Light Blue vs. Eau Intense

Also, you could go with Light Blue Sun, which has overlaps with this original version; though, with a different overall profile.

St. Kitts for Men by Tommy Bahama

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St. Kitts has been my personal favorite from the Tommy Bahama line of men’s colognes for a long while now. But, it’s also been some time since I’ve tried it, and I’ve never written a full review for the website. Let’s change that. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is St. Kitts for Men, worth a buy?

What does St. Kitts by Tommy Bahama Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, star fruit, lime, sea salt, watery notes, musk, driftwood, and more

Click here to try: Tommy Bahama St. Kitts Men Eau De Cologne Spray, 3.4 Fl Oz

My Full Review

I bought a giftset of St. Kitts over the holidays for $15. It included a full bottle of the cologne, aftershave balm, and a body wash. For the price, it’s a pretty great deal. It had been a while since I’d tried this Tommy Bahama scent and figured it was time for a full review.

It opens up with the star fruit and citrus blend. The star fruit leads the way, with mandarin second, and that same lime note found in St. Barts bringing up the rear. Many other fragrances have variations on the citrus opening, but this combo is pretty unique and really is the selling point with St. Kitts.

The fruits are light, fresh, and give it that sweet tropical aroma. One thing I noticed here, is that the musk note seems stronger than I remember. It’s going to play a bigger role in the cologne versus the aftershave balm which is the pure fruity smell.

With the musk, comes an ambergris. It’s not too prevalent versus the musk, either.

Underneath that, water is the next main note, salt water to be specific. Not heavy or super oceanic smelling, but it does lend to the island vibe we’re looking for with this sort of fragrance.

Finally, some cedar and driftwood. These two notes are pretty light in this iteration. Almost like they flipped with the musk note. Still, very enjoyable.

St. Kitts is a rather linear cologne. The development is the fruits fade in strength and it becomes more balanced with the musk, ambergris, water, and salt.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is pretty moderate. At the start, it’ll project itself 4-6 feet with a decent amount of sprays. That’ll last an hour or two, and then, St. Kitts for Men is a much lighter scent. It’ll stick close to the skin.

It’s probably my main gripe with this fragrance, it’s eau de cologne strength. I wish the concentration could’ve at least been an EDT, or even better, and eau de parfum. That would’ve beefed it up and give Kitts better performance.

The longevity, though, isn’t terrible. The scent will stick around for about 6.5 hours on me. Much of that original opening will be gone, but what’s left is still definitely there for the duration. Again, I want that to be different.

Seasonally, spring and summer all the way. This is a very nice casual cologne for a hotter day. I will wear it around town, on vacation, or maybe even for a workout.

I personally have too many other fragrance options for this to be my daily wear, but it could have a spot for someone who wants something understated.

Overall Impressions of St. Kitts for Men

Do I like this cologne? I do. It’s my favorite from the Tommy Bahama line. St. Barts is number two. I absolutely love the citrus notes in this, which is probably why I enjoy wearing the aftershave balm more than my bottle of the cologne itself.

Those fruity notes are an amazing combination. I love them in this, but they’re kind of not being used to their full potential either.

This is a pretty simple fragrance, without too much development. Tropical fruits, watery notes, musk, and a beachy constitution.

I actually like the aftershave balm more, as you get a better version of the scent without the alcohol. The eau de cologne concentration isn’t great with these Bahama fragrances.

The performance is a weak point. The sillage doesn’t maintain its strength for very long, and while it does technically last 6.5 hours, most of the best part is non-existent by then.

Still, this is an easy one to wear, and a scent that I’m going to enjoy breaking out when things start to heat up. For $15? It’s a buy. Full price? That’s up to you.

6 Best Smelling Tommy Bahama Colognes

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Tommy Bahama fragrances tend to stick to a maritime theme, as the brand image would suggest. Over the past decade plus, they have launched new scents consistently, and have put out some enjoyable fragrances that represent a quite casual and carefree lifestyle.

For this post, I want to explore six colognes from this line, which I consider to be the best and you can still readily find. I have updated this post, to include some newer releases, and to get rid of some that are no longer available.

What are the Best Tommy Bahama Fragrances for Men?

Best Overall Tommy Bahama Scent

Tommy Bahama St. Kitts Eau De Cologne Spray for Him, 3.4 Ounce– Keeps up with the aquatic theme of the Set Sail line but takes on fruitier notes. Star Fruit and citrus are the opening stars to go along with a nice salty sea water note and the underlying masculinity of cedar.

You get orange, lime, and the star fruit notes. This sits on an aquatic accord, with a salty aroma. Very light woods give St. Kitts a bit more substance, but overall, its a very simple and refreshing wear for the warmer climates.

This one is closest to St. Barts, in terms of smell, but comes across as less boozy/creamy. Sweet, fruity, with a tropical chill permeating the entire composition. St. Kitts Full Review

Simple, Clean, Musky

Tommy Bahama Martinique Men Cologne, 3.4 Fl Oz– I really wasn’t much of a fan of this stuff at first, but I must say that it’s grown on me as a casual option. An aquatic/sea water aroma with lavender, citrus, and a dose of musk. I think that it settles in nicely and works well in the warm weather.

It opens up with blue lavender and a nice sharp bergamot. It isn’t overly sharp, as the aquatic notes and lavender temper the citrus a bit. The sea breeze notes are salty, but not super intense. Then, you get a musk and pepper note, to round things out.

However, the main part of this is lavender and musk. It turns into a suntan lotion-like scent, floating in a sea breeze/sea weed. The sillage is light to moderate, but you get some pretty good longevity here.  Set Sail Martinique Review

Top New Release

Maritime Journey– I got the chance to spray this one on at the store, but haven’t had enough experience with it to do a full review. Update: Here it is.  However, I think it is good enough to make the list.

Maritime Journey has some light fruitiness from apple, a very crisp and somewhat cold sensation. This is offset by fresh cedar, warm cardamom, and dry oakmoss.

It is more of a fresh woods, than a tropical fragrance like some of the others, but with a light spiciness to go along.

Nice Citrus Aquatic Fragrance

Tommy Bahama St. Barts Men Cologne,3.4 Fl Oz– Often compared as a poor man’s version of Creed’s Virgin Island Water (sans coconut), Set Sail St. Barts opens up with a blast of lime and sea notes that transforms into a boozy lotion, that makes you feel as if you’re right on the beach. I think that this and VIW have similarities but they strike me almost completely differently.

The lime note and sea notes, are also joined by guava, giving Set Sail St. Barts, a truly tropical aroma. It’s salty, with a very juicy citrus profile, that is quite intriguing. I really do love this lime note.

Once that opening act fades, you get palm wood with sea salt spray, and agave. Like a clean shot of tequila, while sitting on an island. Fresh and creamy summer wear, that I can get 6-7 hours with, when I go heavier on the sprays. St. Barts Full Review

Best Fresh Spice Scent

Tommy Bahama Very Cool Eau De Cologne Spray for Men 3.4oz– Ginger and citrus notes are the main players here. This is another one that took time for me to really appreciate. It’s a nice, slightly spicy smell for casual use.

It’s masculine with a light touch. Wish it lasted longer but nothing a few extra sprays wouldn’t fix.

Very Cool opens up with the ginger being the star, it is joined by nutmeg, and paprika. Unlike the other fragrances here, the citrus notes sit underneath the ginger spice, and it doesn’t have that oceanic quality.

As it moves along, the citrus notes do come out more, and it’s kind of a 50/50 split with the spice. Together, it is a soft and cool spice, almost powdery how it comes across. Nice freshie to spray on, casually. Very Cool Full Review

Fresh Aromatic Woody Cologne

Maritime Deep Blue– Maritime Deep Blue is a good release from Tommy Bahama, but it’s not as unique as other offerings from the brand. This is fairly closely related to Eternity Aqua and Polo Blue, in terms of smell.

This one has less of the citrus or aquatic elements of those colognes, but with more woodsy notes. The citrus is still quite prevalent, but not to the same intensity, in my experience.

It’s base has a certain dryness to it, with a really solid juniper note, which is the main distinction from the Polo Blue’s of the world. Maritime Deep Blue Review

Guess Seductive Homme by Guess

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I first came across Guess Seductive Homme, many years ago, while shopping at my local Target. Immediately, I really enjoyed the scent, and purchased a bottle for myself. In fact, this sweet Guess fragrance, was one of the first that I ever reviewed on this site back when it launched.

Every so often, I come back to this post to update the review, and expand upon my thoughts on this scent.  This is the latest incarnation. Also see: Guess Seductive Homme vs. Seductive Homme Blue

What does Guess Seductive Homme Smell Like?

guess seductive homme review

Try it here: Guess Seductive Men Edt Spray, 3.4 Ounce


Notes include: Cardamom Milk, Pink Pepper, Orchid, Mandarin orange, Patchouli, Amber, Sandalwood, And Musk.

My Full Review

The opening of Guess Seductive Homme is warm and smooth. The top features a mandarin orange note which gives off the juicy citrus aroma and it is joined initially by cardamom milk. Now, this cardamom is more inline with Villain by Ed Hardy, rather than what is found in The One by D&G.

The mandarin orange note is paired extremely well here with the other notes, especially for such a low cost cologne option. It can come together quite balanced, but I’ve always really dug that sweet juiciness up top.

It’s a slight spice with a very clear and upbeat citrus scent that is also flanked by the emerging pink pepper note, which becomes more noticeable as the cologne moves along.

After about ten minutes or so, the warmth becomes more enveloping as the amber takes its place as the main note along with a slight musky tinge. It is such a great blend of sweet and spicy. The sweetness is unique and the spicy isn’t overpowering, just warm and inviting.

None of the spice notes have that sharp black pepper vibe, pink pepper is much more mellow, as is patchouli and cardamom milk.

Seductive is just that, a seductive fragrance. It is not one that is feminine in its charms, rather, it is fresh and masculine. Although, there is a definite floral aspect to this cologne from the orchid note. The orchid isn’t overpowering but it does do an excellent job in support of the other aromas.

The drydown is so sweet and the whole composition become blended together, to create an aroma that is rather unique in the fragrance game. There’s a reason why this one has caught on to be a best seller, in this very affordable price range.

Finally, Guess Seductive Homme, ends its life cycle with a lightly musky amber, pink pepper, and a fruity air. Still retaining its warmth and glowing appeal.

It’s so clean and fresh without having a sporty vibe about it at all. Seductive Homme is reserved and workman-like with ability to stay close to the skin.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Seductive Homme is moderate. It actually works very well on my skin compared to some of the other offerings from Guess. It isn’t a beast or anything but it is much better than a skin scent.

It could always project itself in the 4-6 foot range, at its peak, on my skin. Not insanely impressive, though, quite useful.

I get good longevity out of this Guess cologne as well. 6-8 hours isn’t a problem to achieve at all and this is where the Blue version of Seductive fell apart.

Update: Newer bottles, are supposedly a bit weaker from what I’ve read. I haven’t experienced them, but that 6-8 hours was always very consistent for my old bottle.

I like this as a winter scent mainly although it does have year round wear capabilities. I’ve worn it in the summer and it held up decently, not great, but it wasn’t a slouch either. Seductive Homme is versatile in its uses, I’ve worn it both casually and out at night on dates. It works across the board.

Nowadays, I tend to wear it to the gym or just running errands around town. It’s a younger man’s fragrance, but I still have some of a bottle left, and I definitely like to spray it on from time to time.

Does it receive complements? Yes, I have gotten them often with this one. However, understand that it isn’t a loud or overpowering fragrance, and so it’ll usually come when someone is in close proximity to you.

It was always nice to wear this scent to a night out at the bar back in college during the winter time. That’s usually when it got noticed the most by women.

If you’re going to wear it during the summer, I’d probably do nights only. Heat and humidity aren’t amazing with this formulation. It’s much less enjoyable in that sort of climate.

Overall Impressions of Guess Seductive Homme

Overall, I am very happy with my experience with Guess Seductive. It is a warm, crisp, long-lasting, and great smelling cologne for men that is available for an inexpensive price. What more could you want from it?

I enjoy the citrus, fresh spiciness, and inclusion of saffron and amber. It does have a pretty unique mix, especially when it was released. To me, it’s really reached classic status in this price point. Is it the most incredible scent? No, but it really shines versus comparable colognes, and gives you something worthwhile.

I’m glad that I picked up a bottle of this for under $20 and much like a fragrance such as Nautica Voyage, it greatly exceeds its price in what you get in return.

It’s not nearly as well-made as many of the higher end designer scents out there, but Seductive Homme delivers a unique a deliciously sweet experience, for a third of the price. It’s still one of the better ‘cheapies’ on the market and probably will be for quite a long time.

Even if the newer bottles don’t have the same level of performance (and I’m not sure that’s the case), it’s still a solid option for those in the market.

Dior Sauvage vs Prada Luna Rossa Carbon Comparison

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For today’s head to head cologne comparison, I am going to do two popular fragrances from higher end European designers: Sauvage by Dior and the flanker fragrance by Prada, Luna Rossa Carbon. Which of these scent’s smells the best? Which one lasts longer? What are the differences? Which one should you buy?

Tale of the Tape: Carbon vs. Sauvage EDT

Luna Rossa Carbon

Notes include: lavender, ambroxan, metallic notes, pepper, patchouli, coal, bergamot

Click here to try: Prada Luna Rossa CARBON for Men Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 ounce

My Original Review: Luna Rossa Carbon

Sauvage

Notes of Sauvage: bergamot, ambroxan, lavender, pepper, wood notes

Click here to try: Christian Dior Sauvage for Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

My Original Sauvage Review

Opening

Now, these two scents often get compared to one another and for good reason, they are extremely similar on the surface. For me, the similarity is most obvious when first applying, and up through maybe the one hour mark.

The notes that these two fragrances share are the ambroxan, lavender, pepper, and bergamot at the beginning. Sauvage opens with much more of an ambery scent that is covered by a sharp citrus note.

While, Luna Rossa Carbon has a strong bergamot note, it doesn’t have the same intensity as the Sauvage and the ambroxan isn’t as prominent. There is also a bit of a metallic note to Carbon, as the name would suggest, but it’s not too strong. Mostly, the bergamot fades and you get a soapy emergence of lavender.

Between the two, I think I like Luna Rossa Carbon’s opening a bit more. It still has the freshness and the citrus but it doesn’t come across as sharp or in your face.

Edge: Carbon

Projection

Neither one of these scents are complete monsters in terms of their sillage. However, I think because Sauvage has that sharper citrus, it seems to fill a room more than the more moderate Prada fragrance.

Luna Rossa Carbon isn’t weak, it just seems much more subdued than does the Dior. The lavender has that effect and it is much more prevalent in Carbon.

Sauvage for sure has the edge earlier on in the wear. After that, the gap does close somewhat, but Dior takes this round.

Edge: Sauvage

Longevity

Sauvage gives me 8+ hours of wear, as does Luna Rossa Carbon. Again, Sauvage projects stronger throughout than does Carbon, but the Prada cologne is still present.

Update: A few years following this initial post, I do feel like I get more of a consistent wear from Carbon. It’s been like clockwork, whereas Sauvage, sometimes doesn’t last well on my skin for some reason.

The longevity is still about the same most of the time, just the consistency isn’t always there with Sauvage EDT. Sauvage has more sillage and can last longer, it doesn’t always do it. But, that could just my personal experience.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Both of these fragrances really do deliver value in terms of when you can wear each. They both fit in during pretty much all seasons. You can wear them casually, on a date, at work, or on formal occasions. Neither scent has an advantage here.

These fragrances are daily wears for men of pretty much any age group. I would say I would rather wear Luna Rossa Carbon in a formal situation, but unless that’s an everyday occurrence, it shouldn’t be a problem.

Sauvage is a best seller for a reason, it’s easy to wear and has mass appeal. Carbon replicates this in its own way.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I think for most people, the decision between these two fragrances would come down to the price. I will say, if you can get one significantly cheaper than the other, go with that scent.

These scents can smell extremely similar at times, from a distance, and most people won’t know which you’re actually wearing.

For me, neither of these scents is a personal favorite of mine. However, I’ve been liking Luna Rossa Carbon a bit more, and I think that’ll be my winner. It does have more of a lavender aroma to it than does Sauvage, so, if that’s not your thing go with the Dior.

Update: I originally wrote this comparison a few years ago. Since then, Carbon has become by far the better fragrance, in my mind. I couldn’t stand wearing Sauvage EDT, the last time.

I prefer other Luna Rossa fragrances to Carbon and Sauvage EDP, is way better than the EDT. The eau de parfum version is an amazing scent. Much more balanced and deeper.

Personally, I don’t plan on wearing either Carbon or Sauvage EDT, in the future. But, if I have to pick it’s Carbon without question. It feels more balance to me, less of that opening citrus pop, and a nice subtlety with the lavender and metallic note.

Still, Sauvage sells more bottles than Prada, so I guess most people don’t know about Carbon or choose to ignore it. Also, there’s a ton of smell-a-likes of Sauvage, looking to get a piece of its success…here’s that list Fragrances similar to Sauvage.

Winner: Carbon