Men’s Fashion

Polo Cologne Intense by Ralph Lauren

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Polo Cologne Intense EDP is a 2021 release from Ralph Lauren that is a modern flanker to the classic original Polo, which dates back to the 1970s. It seems weird to finally put out a flanker, over 40 years after the fact, but whatever. I recently got ahold of a sample of this scent and have been testing it out. How does it smell? How long does it last? When should it be worn?

What does Polo Cologne Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: grapefruit, mint, basil, sage, patchouli, vetiver

My Full Review

Polo Cologne Intense opens up with a fresh blast of citrus and mint. The grapefruit is bright and cold, with additional mint, and the ever-growing presence of basil. On me, I get more mint at first, and then the basil becomes more prominent.

It’s got a very fresh, green/herbal sort of profile. The basil takes over and it simply has a minty edge from there on, until you get to the dry down.

The next phase has sage and violet leaf, joining the basil which gives Cologne Intense even more of that herbal greenish profile. The basil doesn’t stick out as much to me and the entire thing seems more blended together and it’s harder to distinguish between the individual notes.

The final dry down is actually pretty earthy and dry. The green fresh spice is still there somewhat, but I mostly get the remnants of the violet leaf, patchouli, and vetiver. This is where it feels most like the original to me, but it’s still a fractional overlapping. You get some of Polo, just perhaps not as much as some might like.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one will project 4-7 feet from the skin. It’s not a complete bomb, pretty moderate, but I found it to be consistent and didn’t just quickly turn into a skin scent. I really don’t have any complaints, as I wouldn’t want this one to be a total monster.

The longevity was about 7-8 hours, on my skin. Again, it’s solid, just not going to be shockingly good at sticking around. For most purposes, Polo Cologne Intense will get the job done.

Seasonally, Polo Cologne Intense is actually very versatile. It might be a bit too fresh for the coldest days of the year, but it can work any other time. This is probably it’s greatest strength. Very close to an all-around cologne.

The original Polo in the green bottle, can seem too old school for many guys who grew up in a later time period. This one does have a more youthful feel to it, but not something that would be exclusive to younger guys either. It would work for early 20s and up without issue.

It is safe for work, a night out, or semi-formal occasions. Not really a sexy scent or a club beast, but it can be an easy reach for a lot of situations.

Overall Impressions of Polo Cologne Intense

Overall, do I like Polo Cologne Intense? It’s pretty good. I like the opening phase of this fragrance, but after that it becomes pretty much just an average green/outdoorsy scent with touches of the original Polo cologne.

That mint, basil, and grapefruit is a nice combination. Very fresh and bright. But, is that worth the price of a full bottle? Probably not. Maybe once this starts to hit the discounters, it might be worthwhile for some guys to pick up a bottle.

The performance here is good enough. Sillage isn’t completely weak, it is consistent, and will last close to a full work day.

If you liked the original, this is a more modern take. Don’t expect it to be an exact clone, with more power. This isn’t nearly as woody but does give you a herbal freshness, more of the basil that is found in the original.

Polo Cologne Intense is an okay effort from Ralph Lauren, not amazing, but definitely not terrible.

5 Best Alfred Dunhill Colognes for Men

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Alfred Dunhill is an English brand that has been around for more than a century. It has a long history in the fashion game and it has produced some quality fragrances for both men and women in that time span. For this list, I have selected what I feel to be the five best colognes for men by Alfred Dunhill.

 

What are the Best Smelling Dunhill Fragrances?

Most Popular Dunhill

Desire– A sweet and dynamic fragrance that is energetic and quite popular. It’s been on the market for over 20 years now and it still has a following of people who swear by it. I do like it, but it’s a bit too sweet and rosy for me to want to wear it often.

It opens up with its fruity notes in full effect. Apple and citrus (lemon and bergamot). The rose will come in, on top of a layer of fresh musk. 

The rose is joined by orange blossom, which will give way to the vanilla note, which takes away some of the sharpness from the fading citrus notes. 

Dunhill Desire is an inexpensive play from the early 2000s, still has nice performance, and is very unique versus the mainstream of what you’re going to get nowadays. Read my review here.

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Signature Sandalwood

Dunhill Signature Collection Indian Sandalwood Eau de Parfum for Men, 3.4 fl. oz– This is a nice option for sandalwood lovers. Maybe not as good as some of the niche plays on the market, but Indian Sandalwood is an enjoyable wear.

This Dunhill Signature option is a lighter and cleaner experience. The sandalwood is creamy with hints of fruit notes coming through, but mainly a powdery orris, that adds a coldness to the composition.

The base notes are dry and earthy with patchouli and synthetic moss giving Indian Sandalwood a greener finish. Performance is solid, even if the sillage isn’t too heavy. 

 

 

 

Summery Citrus

Dunhill Signature Collection Amalfi Citrus Eau de Parfum for Men, 3.4 fl. oz.– Another one from the Signature Collection and Amalfi Citrus is a dynamic and fresh option for the spring/summer months.

This does have a similar profile to the Tom Ford citrus/floral fragrances. However, this is much more weighted to the citrus notes, and has more of a masculine vibe overall. Lemon and mandarin, is mainly what I pick up from the citrus.

There is also a nice amount of cardamom spice/sweetness and some additional herbal spice, sitting on top of a light white floral blend. 

Top Dunhill Icon Scent

Dunhill Icon Racing Eau De Parfum, 1.7 Fl Oz– Icon Racing is a mix of sweet and fresh spice. It opens up with citrus and a prominent cardamom note, which adds spice and also a bit of a lemony aroma to the mix. 

That will quickly transition and the cardamom weakens in favor of the lavender and orange blossom notes. It feels like a sweet floral fragrance with a light powdery/musk aroma coming up from the base.

It’s aromatic and sweet with a nice aroma for the spring and summer months. Nothing too unique, does have somewhat of an Invictus-like quality, but doesn’t fully stray into that category to my nose.

 

 

 

80s Throwback

Edition– A men’s fragrance which dates back to the 1980s, Edition, is another woodsy based scent with underlying citrus notes of bergamot and lemon. Edition has an earthy/herbal feel to it to go along with a masculine spice. It is refined and mature.

The vetiver note here is very good with the citrus top notes and a bit of a smoky base. May have been reformulated, but I haven’t come across a new bottle in a long time, so I can’t say for sure.

edition

Le Fou 21 by Dolce & Gabbana

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Dolce & Gabbana is a great Italian design house, especially when it comes to fragrances for both men and women. I really enjoy The One by D&G, as it has an absolutely wonderful smell, even if it doesn’t last quite as long as one would hope.

As a part of the recent batch of sample size colognes I purchased from Fragrancenet.com, I picked up a D&G fragrance which I was not at all familiar with and so was excited to try out. It is called Le Fou 21 and was introduced by D&G in 2011.

What does 21 Le Fou by D&G Smell Like?

Notes: Bergamot, cognac, violet, coriander, and juniper

Click here to try: D & G 21 LE FOU by Dolce & Gabbana EDT SPRAY 3.4 OZ

My Full Review

Note: I am updating this page from 2014 to reflect the new format on the website. It’s been a long time, since I’ve smelled this cologne, so I’ll keep my more basic review from then. At least until I encounter Le Fou 21 again.

I had no expectations of Le Fou 21 before I got it and frankly only bought it on the strength of the Dolce & Gabbana name. I didn’t check the notes which made up this fragrance nor did I check to see what category of scent it could be placed under, so I was going into this sort of blind.

When I first sprayed Le Fou 21 from the tester, I immediately noticed its warmth and spice. It reminded me somewhat of YSL’s wonderful Opium for Men, in that respect, with its oriental spice and smooth aroma that is similar to a vanilla.

Le Fou, however, is a different fragrance from Opium, especially once it settles down. It is a really great blend of spice, florals, and greens. The cognac gives this fragrance its warmth and I think that it would work beautifully in late Autumn or Winter.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

I wore it to work yesterday, in order to see how it would perform over a long day. Le Fou 21 held up and didn’t fade noticeably at all during work hours.

This cologne isn’t heavy, rather, it is a light fragrance that seems to linger in the air but never overwhelms the senses. It’s there and it’s noticeable but it is as if it is simply ambient or a part of the fabric of daily life.

Overall Impressions of Le Fou 21

Out of the five new testers that I bought I would rank Le Fou 21 as my second favorite behind Gucci Guilty Black. However, they are both completely different fragrances, so having both in your rotation wouldn’t be repetitive.

Guilty Black is a bolder scent while Le Fou 21 is also sexy, just in its subtlety.

I think that 21 Le Fou is a great addition to D&G’s line of fragrances. It is classy, sophisticated, and sensual without being overbearing.

It is a fragrance that seems as though it could work very well in an array of different settings and for guys who want to be low key with their cologne choices.

Azzaro Wanted vs. The Most Wanted

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Azzaro has been releasing new Wanted flankers since the success of the original release. The latest, is The Most Wanted, which is an inspired new take on the formulation. However, how does it actually compare to the original Wanted? Which smells better? Is the better buy overall?

Tale of the Tape: Azzaro Wanted vs The Most Wanted

Azzaro Wanted

Notes include: tonka bean, lemon, cardamom, vetiver, juniper, ginger, geranium, mint, amber wood

Click here to try: Azzaro Wanted Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

Read my review: Azzaro Wanted

The Most Wanted

notes include: caramel, cardamom, amberwood

Click here to try: Azzaro The Most Wanted Eau de Parfum Intense | Cologne for Men 1.7 fl oz

My Full Review: The Most Wanted

Opening

Azzaro Wanted kicks things off with lemon, ginger, mint, and woods as its main notes. It is a warm and quite sweet start to things. To me, the fragrance has an enveloping quality thanks to the dose of tonka bean and cardamom, and how they blend with mainly the lemon note.

The Most Wanted starts with the same cardamom note as the original. This note has a slightly lemony aroma already, but The Most Wanted doesn’t actually have the citrus note. It’s fresher, spicier, but less of a sharp sweetness.

Though, the Most Wanted is still sweet with the caramel and Bourbon vanilla note. 

Which is better? For me, The Most Wanted smells better at the beginning without question. Wanted can be a bit sharp with its lemon and mint notes, among the mix as a whole. Meanwhile, Most Wanted is much more streamlined and enjoyable.

Edge: Most Wanted

Projection

In terms of sillage, these are both strong fragrances. Maybe The Most Wanted is a bit more powerful and better at projecting, but it’s really not by much. It’s not enough of a difference to base a purchase off of.

Edge: Most Wanted

Longevity

Wanted will give me a range of wear, in between 7-9 hours in total. It’s a well performing, though not elite scent.

The Most Wanted isn’t elite either, but it consistently delivers 9 hours of wear on my skin. Wanted keeps up sometimes, but it isn’t as consistent.

Edge: The Most Wanted

 

 

Versatility

Both fragrances are served best for younger men. More mature than a pure teenagers cologne, but not super refined and formal. I would wear either for nights out, dates, etc.

There’s not too much of a distinction here, they’re from the same line of colognes after all.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

The original Azzaro Wanted wasn’t a bad fragrance, but it never appealed all that much to me. It was an okay cologne with nice performance. Most of what turned me off of it was the sharpness and sweetness in the opening act. 

Though, I will say that I enjoy the tonka bean and wood notes in the final dry down. That’s the peak of Wanted and it’s definitely very wearable.

However, I thought that Wanted by Night was better than Wanted when it was released. Now? The Most Wanted is my favorite in the series. It’s rare that flanker releases have completely turned me around on a series, but it’s the case here.

The caramel and vanilla notes in The Most Wanted give you a great sweetness. The cardamom, warmth and spice. Plus, there is a freshness here that prevents the fragrance from becoming too heavy. It’s a simpler cologne, but it smells better and also has quality performance.

The Most Wanted wins pretty easily.

Winner: The Most Wanted

Allure Homme Edition Blanche EDT by Chanel

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Allure Homme Edition Blanche EDT was released by Chanel back in 2008. I got a sample of this version a few months ago, along with the newer EDP that the brand still sells. My sample is marked concentree, so, I’m not sure if it was a further release beyond the regular EDT. Either way, this one is no longer produced, but I figured I’d do a review for posterity’s sake. 

What does Edition Blanche EDT Eau Concentree Smell Like?

Notes include: lemon, pink pepper, vanilla, sandalwood, vetiver, tonka bean, amber

My Full Review

Blanche EDT opens with a sharp and dry use of lemon, vetiver, sandalwood, and pink pepper. You’re absolutely going to have to be a citrus lover with this one, to really appreciate it, as it is very sharp upon opening.

The lemon is going to dominate through much of the wear. Early on, it feels especially intense, but once the vanilla and tonka bean kicks in…it will settle.

The pink pepper is the first note to fall off and that gives the sandalwood and vetiver a bit more room in the base. The vanilla creaminess will start to envelope the lemon note, along with the tonka bean. 

This Chanel fragrance is actually pretty darn linear and there isn’t much development beyond that. Just more of the lemon/vanilla aroma and less of the other notes within the composition.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is moderate in the early stages and then pretty light thereafter. However, it does project itself very nicely early on and it’ll hang around well after spraying. Just don’t expect a complete beast for the duration.

Longevity wise, I get 6-ish hours on my skin with this Eau Concentree. Allure Edition Blanche spends much of that time, as a skin scent, but it does indeed hang around. Still noticeable, just not amazing with its performance.

 

Seasonally, Allure Edition Blanche is a spring and summer fragrance, all the way. Mainly, for the summertime. I like to wear it casually or even for a night out. Though, I’d say that it’s probably at its best in the daytime. 

Overall Impressions of Edition Blanche Eau Concentree

Do I like this fragrance? Absolutely. I know they don’t produce this version anymore, and the EDP is close enough, but I really do love this scent. Uden by Xerjoff is an available replacement (and in many ways even better).

That dry lemon and pink pepper opening act could scare some away from this. However, that creamy vanilla/sweet/dessert like finish is so damn good on a warm summer’s day. I have been slowly depleting my sample vial, since I know it’s such a rare commodity. 

The performance of Allure Edition Blanche was never its strong suit. The sillage is moderate, at its peak, but detectable. For much of the wear, it will be a softer experience. Though, it does stick around on the skin for a nice amount of time. 

I wish Chanel could’ve beefed up the performance a bit more.

If you want a bottle of this one in particular, you’ll have to shell out over $300 in all likelihood off a site like eBay. Or you can just go with the EDP, which is also near this same level. Uden is usually $200, but well worth it.