Fragrances

Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani

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Since its release in 1997, Acqua Di Gio by Giorgio Armani, has enjoyed an immense popularity and success in terms of praise and sales. This cologne is always at the top of the charts in terms of numbers of units sold and enjoys a near universal appeal.  For this post, I want to take a deeper look at this popular Armani fragrance and explore what exactly gives it this appeal.

Note: I have come back to this post, to revamp and really, do an all new review. I have grabbed a sample of the latest batch, that I could get, and tested it out. Reformulations do happen with fragrances over time (although this wasn’t completely different from what I remember of older bottles).

Key Takeaways on Acqua di Gio

  • An absolute classic, that’s continues to be a best seller
  • Breezy citrus aquatic with spice and jasmine highlights
  • Moderate performance with newer batches
  • Easy and approachable daily wear. Great starter fragrance.

What does Acqua di Gio Smell Like?

acqua

Notes include: bergamot, tangerine, neroli, jasmine, rosemary, patchouli, rock rose, hyacinth, persimmon, marine notes

Click here to try: Acqua Di Gio By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces

AdG Fully Tested Review

Acqua di Gio opens up with a whole host of citrus notes blended with a slightly salty marine aroma. It’s immediately very fresh and clean, easy to see why it has become an absolute classic. It is a bright scent with a summery disposition and conjures up images of a breezy shoreline.

The citrus is a lime and lemon affair mostly, but with definite bits of tangerine floating around in there. It’s a great smell, that can actually be sour at points, but that’s not a persistent feature.

AdG has always had this undertone of floral notes, I definitely pick up on jasmine being in the opening stages, which is a nice contrast from the juicy citrus and aquatic elements. Though, when you move forward in the dry down, there is neroli and hyacinth also peaking through at times.

I have really been enjoying that opening lime and lemon, especially when it starts to transition, and more of the jasmine comes out. That phase it utterly fantastic.

If all Acqua di Gio offered was some citrus and light floral notes, it would have never been as copied by other perfume manufacturers as it has been in these past 20+ years. No, what I think it is that gives it its strength, is that woody base and the pure aquatic vibe.

These two aspects permeate every part of this cologne, its sort of a water-logged cedar soaked in the citrus juices. Then, add some light musk, and other slightly spicy ingredients to boost the freshness. It never gets bogged down or overly spiced, just super clean and upbeat.

The version that I am using in 2020 for this review, doesn’t seem to have quite the same amount of woodiness, but it is still there. This batch feels quite more marine than I remember the older ones being, but that might be a trick of memory, rather than reformulation. Overall, it is quite like how I remember.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s always had a moderate but solid sillage. It’s an aquatic after all, so it’s not going to be a complete bomb of a scent. You can certainly over-spray and choke out a room, but with normal application, it will be a narrow radius of scent around the wearer.

I get about 6 hours of wear from this sample, maybe closer to 7 during some wears. Again, not amazing but a very solid daily wear.

This is probably one area, where this fragrance has lost a step over the years. The longevity, is still good, but the other AdG scents have a much better performance. The sillage in the later hours is fairly soft, also.

Seasonally, I really like it in the warm weather, but in actuality this can be an all-purpose cologne and that’s what guys have been doing for decades. It’s also kind of become a unisex fragrance, at this point, because many women really enjoy this smell and so don it themselves.

AdG is of course a very versatile cologne that can be worn casually or more formally or out on a date. It’s been a best seller for a reason, people really love this aroma, in general.

It does skew more for younger men, but I think its flanker AdG Profumo, is better for older guys (and better overall).

Nonetheless, it still has a mass appeal and can be safely worn by anybody. There’s a reason, it became a classic.

Overall Impressions of Acqua di Gio

Overall, do I still like Acqua di Gio, all these years later? I have to say that I do. It’s not my favorite cologne, I like Profumo more, and it’s been copied countless times…but it is still a very good scent.

It really set the stage for many colognes that came out from the late-1990s on and is going to be a best seller for many more decades probably. For citrus aquatics, this is still among the best to ever do it, and bottles are certainly easy to come by.

I do enjoy most of the newer AdG offerings more than this. However, the citrus opening and the use of jasmine here is still awesome. That’s what is distinct about it versus the others and experiencing it again, is what made me tear through my samples pretty fast.

This is still a good cologne. There are just other options out there, that smell very similar to this, but are much more affordable. For me, I appreciate this scent, but don’t have much use for it anymore.

That being said, I’ve been seeing Armani put this one sale a whole lot lately. So, maybe some of that value can come into play for those looking to get a bottle. With discount codes, you can get a giant bottle for at a nice price, and I could be swayed to grab one if the mood struck.

Le Jardin de Monsieur Li by Hermes

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I have a ton of reviews to write up and hundreds of other assorted posts coming over the next month or two, so, it’s going to get busy around these parts. Let’s kick off this extravaganza with a unisex perfume review.

Today’s entry we have a 2015 release by Hermes: Le Jardin de Monsieur Li. How does this scent stack up? How does it perform? Is it any good? Please read below for my full take.

What does Le Jardin de Monsieur Li Smell Like?

Notes include: jasmine, kumquat, sap, mint, grassy notes, watery notes

Click here to try: Hermes Le Jardin De Monsieur Li Eau de Toilette, 3.3 Fluid Ounce

Hermes: Real or imaginary…A garden of awakening and harmony

Full Wear Review

Le Jardin de Monsieur Li opens up with an exceedingly bright and sweet aroma, led by the kumquat note. It’s got a very citrusy scent, that is quite watery, and does indeed remind me of a small garden pond. This fragrance is really peaceful, attractive, and well put together in its simplicity.

At the start, I do get some minty element underneath the watery kumquat, but it never really takes over the composition. Instead, it is a light and cool spice, that dances in the background. At the heart of it all, is the jasmine note, which gives off its usual clean white floral scent.

It’s really super fresh at the start, but, increasingly becomes a floral garden blend as you move along. However, while that kumquat and mint are really big, Le Jardin totally grabs your attention.

Further along in the wear, it feels greener, with some herbal or grassy sort of smells mixed into the scent. The kumquat dies down about 20-30 minutes into the wear and the jasmine becomes more pronounced.

As it dries down, the jasmine will become the main aroma, and I detect only bits of citrus and grass. Even so, it is still a very attractive fragrance, at that point.

Finally, it is a sort of soapy jasmine perfume, with a persistent watery element. I do like how Hermes, managed to capture that walking in a garden on a summer’s day feeling.

It reminds me of trips to the various botanical gardens, I’ve been to, over the years. Upbeat, smooth, but quite a simple and straightforward fragrance.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage on Le Jardin is pretty light and airy. However, it isn’t really weak. This is one of those perfumes you won’t notice that you are wearing at times, and then, suddenly catch a whiff of. Others will notice it too, it’s just not one that will take over a room.

Longevity is in the 4-6 hour range depending on the day, not that amazing, but still useful. I think this is all by design, though. It is supposed to evoke memories, create an experience, that you’re unsure of if it is real or isn’t.

But, even with that being the case, I do wish that you could squeeze a few more hours out of the wear. 4-6 isn’t bad for a warmer weather fragrance, but it isn’t great either.

Seasonally, this one is spring and summer, totally. This is listed as a unisex fragrance, but it does lean more towards the feminine end of the spectrum.

Though, it is still completely wearable for men, I had no problems with smelling too ‘girly’ while wearing this Hermes. A green garden aroma, with jasmine and mint, is pretty much right down the middle.

Le Jardin is good for casual or dressed up daytime wear and I wouldn’t be opposed to wearing it for an evening out. It is attractive and quite pleasing to be around, not really sexy, but something people will definitely enjoy smelling.

I would wear this more during the day casually, versus formally in the evening, or to a bar or wherever. Point blank, probably not going to be a signature perfume for most people, but one that could for sure have a spot in a fragrance rotation.

Overall Impressions of Le Jardin de Monsieur Li

Overall, do I enjoy Le Jardin de Monsieur Li? Yes, it is a very elegant and simple scent. This Hermes fragrance is put together beautifully with the kumquat, jasmine, and green elements. I really do like the opening 20 minutes, a whole lot. I think that the kumquat and light mint are utterly superb.

There isn’t much development or complexity, but it really doesn’t matter here, at all. It is all that it needs to be in order to be successful with the mood that it is trying to accomplish.

A moment in time, in a meditative garden? Sounds about right. Too many of these garden scents go the overly floral route, to where it is simply too much. Others will go hyper green and smell like a collection of watery stems. Hermes went the simple route and it paid off.

This is a perfume that is designed to create an impression and experience. Sort of a ‘concept’ fragrance. I think that its really great in that aspect. I do enjoy the overall experience, but more so the beginning.

Most of this line of fragrances from Hermes are really good. This one ranks right near the top, in my opinion.

It’s one from the series that you should definitely try. Though, admittedly, it won’t appeal to everyone. Probably wouldn’t be something you’d completely hate, but might not find enticing enough.

The pricing here in 2024, has gotten pretty high for what this perfume is. So, if you want to buy, try to get it from a discounter to save some cash.

Best Les Eaux de Chanel Fragrances

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Chanel released its line of perfumes under the Les Eaux de Chanel banner starting a few years ago. There are currently five fragrances with the designation and I grabbed samples of them a few months ago.

Since then, I’ve tested out these scents, and wanted to create a post ranking them. The following is my current standings and I’ll update this page if I change my mind or any new releases are brought to market in the future.

What are the Top Les Eaux de Chanel Perfumes?

The Best

Paris-Venise by Chanel– Paris-Venise is my pick for the best of this Chanel line. My number two pick was a close challenger, but I think Venise pretty easily surpasses the other options.

Venise features notes of neroli, vanilla, and tonka bean. It kicks off with a great citrus accord, ylang-ylang, and a powdery mix of iris and violet. It’s fresh, unique, and a dynamic summertime wear.

The citrus, iris, and ylang-ylang (plus other floral notes) are most prominent in the opening act. Then, as it settles, you get the softer sweet and creamy notes coming through. With enough of the iris/violet combination to make it interesting. Paris-Venise is a very beautiful fragrance.

Lime and Basil Wonder

Paris-Deauville by Chanel– Deauville secured the number two spot without much trouble. After testing each of these perfumes, I kept coming back to this gem, time and time again.

Lime, lemon, and mandarin orange start things off here. But, it’s not a purely citrus fragrance, as there is also a prominent basil note and an overall green aroma in Paris-Deauville. The main notes are lime, basil, and patchouli.

That’s the trio for most of the wear. There is a floral aspect to this with a bit of rose and jasmine, but they really aren’t that major in the mix.

I get about 7 hours of wear on my skin. Deauville is a pretty simple scent, that’ll be a spring and summer wear, but it’s a really great use of lime. Read my full review

Green Gin Forest

Paris – Édimbourg– Paris–Édimbourg is the next in line and the top Eaux des Chanel for men. The others on the list, outside of Biarritz maybe, are pretty darn feminine.

This one is also the most unique. With this we go green and really fresh with notes of juniper and cypress, producing a gin-like aroma. It’s bright and woodsy, with the vetiver playing a larger role in the latter stages.

Vanilla adds a light creamy and sweet touch to the fragrance and helps to keep it more in the unisex camp. If you don’t want to go with a citrus or citrus/floral wear from this line for the summer, check out this, because it could be your number one pick. Paris-Edimbourg Review

Zesty Neroli

Paris-Riviera by Chanel– Riviera could easily be in the third spot, but I ultimately decided that I liked the unique aspect of Edimbourg more.

Paris-Riviera is a citrus floral perfume, with top notes of orange, neroli, and petitgrain. I recognize that Chanel orange note immediately and the neroli reminds me of the various Tom Ford summertime perfumes.

Riviera is quite zesty and uplifting in the early stages with a slight fresh spiciness to it. As it wears on, this Chanel will become more about the floral notes. Jasmine will eventually overtake the neroli, but it is a pretty even split.

The tail end becomes muskier with a late kick from the sandalwood note to add a further dryness to the mix. While I like Biarritz listed below, Riviera is better and lasts longer, so it’ll get the number four spot.

Hyper-Citrus Aquatic

Paris-Biarritz– Paris-Biarritz starts off with a powerful blast of cold citrus notes. Here it is going to be grapefruit and mandarin orange, according to Chanel. However, there is also very clearly a lemon note in here and it’s actually the strongest at the beginning.

Underneath that, what I think may throw some folks off, is the aquatic note in here. There is an oceanic aroma, not super strong, but it’s there and gives this a different feel. Lily of the valley and vetiver are present in the dry down.

I’m giving this one the bottom spot, even if it’s not a bad fragrance. Actually, I like it quite a bit. However, there are better options on this list that have a similar style and other Chanel fragrance that are also close to this.

Paris-Biarritz does have that awesome ice cold citrus and aquatic aroma that I like. Ultimately, the performance isn’t good enough and it doesn’t do anything better than the others on the list. Really, the 3 to 5 spots could be up for grabs, but this is how I’ve landed after using each for a while.

Guilty Pour Homme EDP by Gucci

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Guilty has been a massively successful line from Gucci in the past decade. It has seemed like each successive iteration has had less to do with the original fragrance than those that preceded it. Until, they’ve become colognes that just have the same name.

So, getting ahold of Gucci Guilty Eau de Parfum, I wasn’t sure of what to expect from this. How does it smell? Is the performance amped up? Is it even worth trying?

What does Guilty Pour Homme Eau de Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: rose, French lavender, neroli, chili pepper, orange blossom, patchouli, vinegar, salt

Click here to try: GUCCI GUILTY POUR HOMME by Gucci, EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY 3 OZ

Full Wear Review

Here’s how Gucci describes it: The celebration of freedom expressed by the statement #ForeverGuilty continues with Gucci Guilty Pour Homme Eau de Parfum, a Woody Aromatic Spicy fragrance created to provoke. A contemporary take on two iconic perfumery ingredients popular in the ’70s.

The starts of Guilty EDP is intriguing. I read the list of notes before ever trying out this fragrance and wanted to know how they were going to infuse chili pepper, vinegar, and salt into this blend…because it sounds weird.

It does open up with a balsamic aroma. It’s spicy, warm, and has a greenish finish thanks to the presence of the rose (it doesn’t strike me as a red rose, more of a pink).

There is a touch of salt in the air, but the parfum has a fresh and soapier cleanliness that lurks underneath. One that will grow, as we move forward.

Neroli and red pepper add spice and the white floral notes sit underneath the rose. It favors the rose at first. Then, the neroli and orange blossom shine. Finally, the fragrance will feature the lavender and orange blossom.

The patchouli and rose combination do provide this with a classic feeling and an overall greenish earthiness.

At some point, the spiciness rolls off and it becomes a warmer floral fragrance, with patchouli and light woods. That soapy clean aroma becomes more apparent. There still is some chili pepper, but the balsamic aspect goes away.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

I was expecting a much more powerful scent with this eau de parfum version. Actually, the sillage is softer to moderate. Sure, the early stages are pretty solid, and that lasts about an hour or two. Thereafter, Guilty EDP is quite soft.

The longevity isn’t all that great either. It’s really not much different from the EDT, from my recollection. EDP sticks around for 5-6 hours. That’s about it.

The Guilty collection is fairly hit and miss with how long each of them lasts. They all seem to top out at the 8-9 hour mark, at the high end, and around here for the rest of them.

Guilty eau de parfum does provide a versatile wear, even if the performance isn’t top notch. It might not have a clear universal appeal, but for those who enjoy it, EDP can be worn almost anywhere and not feel too out of place.

It’s low key enough to be worn to an office. Though, I’d more want to wear it casually or for certain evenings out.

It’s not amazing in the heat. I’ve worn it in cooler autumn temperatures and on more moderate days without issue. It’s really when this cologne is at its best. Not too hot or too cold.

Overall Impressions of Guilty Pour Homme EDP

Overall, do I like Guilty EDP? Sort of. The opening act is really good. The balsamic rose with red pepper spice? Very interesting and smells great. Not my favorite fragrance ever, but it wasn’t a boring experience.

After that? Meh. It’s got some of the same notes as earlier entries into the series. Lavender, orange blossom, cedar. But, it doesn’t strike me as the same as Intense or even EDT. There’s elements there, though, the aroma is different.

I currently have an mini of Guilty Intense and the resemblance comparing them side by side, just isn’t that great.

Guilty Pour Homme EDP goes from interesting to forgettable. Yet, it still never reached a high level of enjoyment for me. It’s fine in terms of the smell.

I actually opted for a bottle of Guilty Love 2020 after sampling both it and EDP. Also, I later bought Guilty Parfum when it was released. I liked that better than EDP, as well. But, it’s also not amazing, kind of got boring after a while.

Plus, the performance isn’t all that great.

I do think that Guilty EDP is worth a try. Perhaps, you will have more of a love for it than I do. It’s fine, has its moments, but not one that I personally need to own.

Burberry Brit for Men

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Despite the overwhelming popularity of my post on the top smelling Burberry fragrances for men, I had yet to do a review of Burberry Brit and thought that I would remedy that oversight today.

In this post, I want to give a general overview of Brit, my impressions of it, how well it wears, and whether or not it should merit consideration of a purchase.

Note: I have updated this review, a few years after posting the original, to give new thoughts and expand more upon Burberry Brit for Men.

What Does Burberry Brit Smell Like?

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Notes include: wild roses, tonka bean, green mandarin, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, cedar

Click here to try Burberry Brit:BURBERRY Brit for Men Eau de Toilette, 1.0 fl. oz

My Full Wear Review

My immediate impulse when smelling Burberry Brit is to compare it with other Burberry fragrances, such as London. Whereas London is more of a rugged, woodsy, tobacco type of scent, Brit strikes me as something much smoother.

The opening is fresh and delightful and one is immediately drawn into the subtle spice of the nutmeg/ginger/tonka notes; and the quite powdery aroma, which balances it out.

The mandarin and bergamot citrus notes are present at the top and provide their usual brightness. This is a nice contrast from the fresh spiciness of the rest of the composition.

The opening is really dominated by this subdued citrus and fresh spice combination. There is an air of sweetness within Brit during this stage of the wear, the citrus and tonka bean, seem to be creating that effect.

Yet, the cologne overall still has this green outdoorsy cleanliness during this time, as well.

What is interesting about Brit is that it contains wild roses but that it doesn’t give off the extreme rosiness of a cologne such as Dunhill Desire.

Brit isn’t in any way a loud cologne, I think it really does a fantastic job of taking different elements and working them together in harmony instead of having one dominate feature.

With Brit, you get a warm spice, fresh green/woodsy notes, with a hint of citrus provided by the green mandarin note, and a baby powder type of finish.

The dry down is the make or break period for most guys with this fragrance, I’d say. The dark powdery rose, isn’t going to be enjoyable for some folks, but it is very well done.

Again, it isn’t a super feminine or in your face rose. It’s smoothed out by tonka bean, a cedar base, with the same spices with the ginger, cardamom, and nutmeg notes.

Longevity, Sillage, and Versatility

Longevity wise, this is a really good performer and will typically last around 8 hours give or take. It isn’t a projection beast by any means but it does a great job at presenting itself as a moderate scent.

It’s always had solid sillage on my skin, consistent, but not a scent bomb. It’s more of a strong starter, then, lighter after a few hours. For much of the wear it’s going to be an intimate kind of cologne.

Nevertheless, in all my years of having various bottles of this scent, I’ve never been disappointed by its performance. It holds up well.

 

Burberry Brit is another safe option for the autumn or winter months, just like Burberry for Men (Also see: Brit vs Burberry for Men Comparison).

However, I think Brit would be a better wintertime wear. I’ll usually wear it on colder days, but occasionally I will put some on in the evening, as something casual.

Brit for Men isn’t a summertime fragrance, though, it can be worn in the more moderate temperatures of spring. Still, much better as a colder climate scent.

Brit is an option that can be worn safely at work or even for class. It’s not going to overpower and it smells quite clean and pleasant. Teen guys can wear it, but it doesn’t have that really youthful vibe, and has enough maturity to be worn by someone much older.

Overall Impressions of Burberry Brit for Men

Overall, I really enjoy this stuff. Brit is a great choice for everyday wear in the fall or winter months of the year.

It is a solid performer for school or work and safe to use in either environment. It isn’t necessarily a ‘sexy’ type of cologne but it smells damn good and is attractive enough with the ladies. I’d definitely rate it as a buy.

This has become my third most worn Burberry cologne at this point, as I usually go with Burberry for Men or London depending on the occasion, and which bottle I have.

(Edit: I have purchased a full bottle, in the autumn, and have been wearing it more than the others. I’ve been loving Brit for Men, as of late. I think it’s become my second favorite behind London now).

Still, Brit for Men is a fairly unique guy’s cologne, and does everything quite well.

Really, there haven’t been too many great releases from this brand in a long while. The Mr. Burberry series was decent, but nothing must have. Still, well over a decade later Brit just works, and is among this designers top scents.