Men’s Fashion

Y Le Parfum by YSL

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Y Le Parfum is the latest release from the Y line of men’s fragrances here in 2021. It follows four other scents that YSL has put out over the past few years under this banner. I got a decanted sample of this stuff recently and have been testing out over the past few days. How does it smell? How long does it last? When should it be worn? Is it even worth a try?

What does Y Le Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: apple, grapefruit, ginger, aldehydes, lavender, sage, geranium, patchouli, tonka bean, and cedar

Click here to try: Y Le Parfum

My Full Review

The opening act of Le Parfum is pretty similar in many ways to both Y EDP and EDT. You get the apple and ginger combination up top, along with the sage and geranium already peaking through.

The difference is, Le Parfum isn’t nearly as bold, has more of a sweetness, while being greenish and somewhat dark. Yes, you do still get the citrus/fruity notes, it’s grapefruit here. Though, the addition of the aldehydes, gives this one a bright/sweet/slightly fresh aroma.

I’m not too enthused with the opening, but it’s still pretty nice overall.

Once I get past this initial phase, I really begin to enjoy Y Le Parfum. It becomes softer, with hints of sage still providing an edge, but with an attractive sweetness.

It’s sort of comparable to Legend Night or Versace Eros, at this stage. Apple, tonka bean, lavender, cedar, and geranium are running the show. A somewhat dark sweetness with a fresh woody base. It just doesn’t have the same density to my nose, as those others.

The final stage is lavender, tonka bean, and a mix of the remaining fruity and woody notes. There are plenty of other scents which have done this pairing, though, it’s really great here. I couldn’t stop smelling the amount that I applied to my wrist.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

After having used Y EDP for a while, I was expecting Le Parfum to have somewhere close to a similar sillage, it doesn’t. It is fairly noticeable at the start but hangs quite close to the skin for the rest of the wear.

I’d rate it as a moderate fragrance and not one that is going to take over a room. My favorite part of the wear, just happens to be when Y Le Parfum is at its weakest point.

Also, the longevity here isn’t great. I get 6-6.5 hours of wear from this one. Maybe it’s gotten to 7 a few times. Not horrendous, but for the price and the previous entries in this series, it’s disappointing.

Only slightly better than Eau Fraiche, which at least has the excuse of being a lighter summer wear. This just doesn’t have the YSL Y EDP performance level.

Even applying the fragrance to an old t-shirt didn’t yield much better results.

Seasonally, Le Parfum is a versatile cologne. I’d stay away from the extreme highs or lows in temperatures, but it wouldn’t feel out of place in autumn, spring, or the moderate days of the other two seasons.

This Y scent has a more mature and subtle profile than the others in the series. It doesn’t have that bold ‘punch you in the face’ power of EDP and it has a complexity that the others don’t. Suitable for many age ranges and occasions.

Overall Impressions of Y Le Parfum

Overall, do I like Y Le Parfum? Yes, particularly the dry down period. The opening isn’t amazing to me, as it feels like a muted EDP, but it distinguishes itself in the second act.

The problem for me is, I already own EDP and this doesn’t do enough in terms of performance, to separate itself.

The opening is the strongest point and it feels like a lesser than EDP. By the time it takes on that sweet and enjoyable dry down, the fragrance is pretty weak.

As of right now, this is my second favorite Y scent, after EDP. Some aspects of it, I actually like better, but it doesn’t take the top spot in its totality.

However, Le Parfum might be a good solution for those who think that EDP is too loud. It has gotten less likeable for me over time, though. Le Parfum doesn’t seem like a great deal, based on its starting price.

Though, once you can grab discounted bottles, it’s worth a try. Very nice fragrance, just not top tier, in my eyes.

Dior Homme Sport (2012) by Christian Dior

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Today, we’ve got a review of Dior Homme Sport by Christian Dior (2012 edition). This is a flanker fragrance of the fantastic Dior Homme line of scents that has been released over the last decade plus. How does this one rate? What does it smell like? How does it perform? Continue reading below for my full wear review of Dior Homme Sport.

What does Dior Homme Sport 2012 Smell Like?

Notes include: Sicilian Citron, iris, ginger, cedarwood

Click here to try: Christian Dior Dior Homme Sport Eau De Toilette Spray 2012 Edition for Men, 1.7 Ounce

My Full Review

Alright, from the start, I have concluded that this sample I am reviewing from is a 2012 Edition of Dior Homme Sport. There is also a 2017 version which has some differences in the composition, so make sure you know which one you’re getting, before buying…even though, they still are somewhat similar.

If buying from a discount retailer, I would suspect you’ll be getting the 2012, at this point in time and of course that can change going forward. Update: Not any more.

From the opening, I notice how much this Homme Sport edition smells like Hugo Red. They both share citrus and cedar notes of different variations, but they really do strike a familiar chord to one another.

This is great for me, as I enjoy wearing Hugo Red during the warmer months of the year, but the comparison is mostly confined to the opening 30 minutes or so.

It’s interesting because Red contains a metallic aroma and Dior Homme Sport even manages to mimic that, perhaps it’s the combination of citrus and the heavier iris note?

Dior Homme Sport has a very sharp lemon kick and an energetic freshness, which I find quite wonderful. The iris becomes more dominant as the fragrance moves along and adds the floral/green vibe with support from the cedar wood.

So, it moves from heavy citrus and Hugo Red like to something that is more woody/green with a solid presence of citrus. Dior Homme Sport is a very straightforward kind of cologne, not much changes through the wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection is quite good for the first hour or two and then drops down to something more moderate and close to the skin, which is disappointing, but not terrible.

Longevity wise, it’s not great but again, not awful. I get around 5 or 6 hours of wear from Dior Homme Sport. Meh.

While I do find this scent to be attractive, it doesn’t strike me as sexy, or any type of club scent. It’s a great casual wear for the warmer months of the year. Outdoorsy, in a leisurely sport kind of way. It’s got class and a nice sense of energy behind it.

Overall Impressions of Sport 2012

Overall, would I recommend Dior Homme Sport 2012? I enjoy it. Again, there are different versions and as I recall this one is different from the original, which I really liked.

If you need a summertime wear for the day, this is a very good choice.

It’s upbeat and clean and pleasant to wear. One might go with the aforementioned Hugo Red, if wanting to save money, since the start of each scent is so similar. Yes, they do end up on different paths, but both are good smelling colognes.

Update: Yes, 2012 was one of the best editions. Much better than both 2017 and 2021 (which is my least favorite so far). If you’re wanting something along these lines, maybe you can still find Luna Rossa Eau Sport around.

Other than that, Sport 2012 is basically long gone, outside of bottles on a site like eBay. Even with those, they are very much overpriced versus what the scent used to go for. To me, it’s not really worth it. Though, this was a great summer wear.

New York Sandalwood by Bond No. 9

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The second Bond No.9 sample vial that I recently received is New York Sandalwood. It actually came in a spray vial instead of the usual Bond vial, that requires you to dab, and has a cap that’s a pain to take off…which was a welcome change.

Anyways, in this post, I’m going to cover: how it smells, what notes are included, how it performs, who this scent is for, and if it is worth a buy or not.

What does New York Sandalwood Smell Like?

Notes include: sandalwood, orris, carrot, amber, papyrus, musk, fig, cardamom, and oak moss

Click here to try: Bond No. 9 New York Sandalwood 3.3 oz Eau de Parfum Spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of New York Sandalwood is a blast of sandalwood, amber, and oak moss. It’s a very dry warmth, something along the lines of Azzaro Pour Homme, as the mossy wood aroma quickly reminded me of.

Sandalwood, is obviously the star of this scent, and this fragrance is mostly all about how the rest of the notes fit in concert with that.

What’s unique about this fragrance, is the carrot note. What an unusual note to include and it is actually quite potent throughout. It just smells really odd to my nose, not terrible, but I don’t enjoy it at all either. It’s inclusion just sort of baffles me, as I’ve never wanted to smell like a carrot before.

Anyways, there is a level of spiciness to New York Sandalwood, with the musk and an added dryness beyond the oak moss and sandalwood.

I would attribute it to papyrus, which I have familiarity working with in paper form. It’s a subtle scent but if you know it, you’ll notice that it is there. Also, the orris root tempers everything with its powdery presence.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s fairly strong, but never struck me as overly so. Bond No. 9 did a good job with it’s performance in that regard and also with the longevity. It’ll project itself probably around 6 feet at the max. Then, it’ll draw itself closer in to the skin.

I got around 7 or closer to 8 hours of wear out of New York Sandalwood, which is definitely a plus. Not a complete marathon runner, but close to a full workday of sticking around.

This is a cold weather and casual scent. I couldn’t call this one sexy or something that would appeal to the majority of people, it really strikes me as a niche fragrance. While it’s listed as unisex, this Bond No. 9, leans much more to the masculine side of the spectrum.

Overall Impressions of New York Sandalwood

Overall, would I recommend New York Sandalwood? Maybe to a select few. I personally won’t be wearing it again, since I didn’t find it to be that enjoyable. This smell isn’t awful to me, but I’m not a huge sandalwood fan.

If you are, this would be one to consider, but there are cheaper sandalwood scents on the market that might do a better job. Again, this is a really niche fragrance, both in terms of smell and price. I’m almost completely indifferent towards it.

Just Different by Hugo Boss

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For today’s review, I am going to cover another Hugo Boss scent, the 2011 release Just Different. How does this casual fragrance from Boss stack up? How does it smell? Is it ultimately worth a purchase? Please continue reading below for my full wear review.

What does Just Different Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, freesia, basil, cashmeran, patchouli and apple

Click here to try: Hugo Boss Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, Just Different, 4.2 Ounce

My Full Review

Now, naming fragrances can be a funny business. For example, there are many ‘intense’ versions of colognes out there that are actually weak as hell. Just Different by Hugo Boss takes its name and delivers something quite familiar and ordinary.

That’s not to say that this fragrance is bad, just the name really doesn’t fit.

The opening is a really fresh blast of cool mint and along with the patchouli, reminds me of Ice Men. These two colognes are not the same but they do share some similarities.

Where they differ (and where I think Just Different is better) is the light apple note and the herbal spice provided by the basil. I also feel that this Hugo Boss scent shares some DNA with Lacoste L.12.12. White, so I’d put it as a blend between that and the aforementioned Ice Men.

Just Different has a ‘cold’ energy to it. This is a very fresh/clean type of scent and the patchouli seems to give it a bit more body, to an otherwise thin or light cologne. It’s a pretty linear fragrance and what you smell is what you get after the initial opening 5 minutes.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection is quite light. It is noticeable but definitely not a heavy hitter. Maybe at the lower end of the range of what could be considered moderate, at its peak.

The performance in terms of longevity is actually pretty decent, I can get up to 6 hours of wear. Not great but not as bad a some others out there on the market.

Just Different strikes me as a casual scent for spring/summer. It’s a change of pace from the usual citrus or aquatic fragrances and takes a bit of different path with the mint note (maybe that’s what’s so ‘different’ about it).

Overall Impressions of Just Different

Overall, this is a very meh fragrance. Hugo Boss seems to have a lot of these over the years, colognes that don’t really stand out and are pretty generic in almost every way.

I mean, it smells pretty nice, but isn’t fantastic by any stretch. What’s the point of owning this? Maybe if you got a really cheap bottle. Even the somewhat close alternatives of Ice Man and Lacoste White, aren’t amazing fragrances.

Tuscan Leather vs Tobacco Oud Comparison

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For this post, I wanted to do another comparison between two Tom Ford scents: Tuscan Leather vs. Tobacco Oud. Which of these two popular Private Blend fragrances smells the best? Which lasts longer? Which is the better buy? I have worn and reviewed both, and will now, break down each by category before declaring an ultimate winner.

Tale of the Tape

Tobacco Oud

Notes include: tobacco, oud, amber, whiskey, vanilla, cinnamon, benzoin, patchouli, sandalwood, coriander, cedar, incense

Click here to try: Tom Ford Private Blend Tobacco Oud Eau De Parfum Spray 100ml/3.4oz

Read my original review: Tobacco Oud Review

Tuscan Leather

Notes include: leather, suede, raspberry, jasmine, olibanum, saffron, amber

Click here to try: Tom Ford Tuscan Leather Eau De Parfume Spray for Men, 1.7 Ounce

My original Review: Tuscan Leather

Opening

Tobacco Oud actually starts out with a burst of the oud and whiskey. The tobacco is there, but it doesn’t become as prominent, until later on in the wear. Instead, you get a boozy oud aroma. It is kind of rough and smoky, but with coriander, patchouli, and incense underneath the two top notes.

Tuscan Leather starts off with that leather note, which is fantastic, along with saffron. I love this combination. Beyond that is a suede note, which helps to further smooth things out, and some juicy raspberry.

Which is better? To me, the start isn’t really a contest. I think that Tuscan Leather is much better in the beginning, as the open is probably the worst part of Tobacco Oud. I like whiskey, but not as much, when paired with a strong oud note.

Edge: Tuscan Leather

Projection

Both are pretty strong with the sillage, at the start, and then move into something that is more moderate. To me, there really isn’t a distinction between them. Tobacco Oud is heavier, but doesn’t out project.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Tobacco Oud will go for 10+ hours on my skin. Tuscan, will get me 8-9 hours. Pretty straightforward win here for Tobacco Oud. Though, Tuscan Leather is no slouch.

Edge: Tobacco Oud

Versatility

Both of these fragrance work best in the colder parts of the year. I’d say Tuscan can hold up better in warmer weather, but not hot. I’d much rather wear Tuscan as a casual fragrance or a date night cologne, versus Tobacco Oud. Both can however, fit in during more formal occasions.

Edge: Tuscan Leather

Overall Scent

Tobacco Oud is a nice fragrance, that gets better, as it dries down. It becomes woodier, with more sweetness, and a mix of smoky tobacco. The opening is kind of off putting, but in terms of performance and overall quality, it is a very good option for oud lovers.

However, I much prefer Tuscan Leather to it. The leather note is one of the best that I’ve ever come across and when paired with suede…it’s super smooth. It’s a darkly deep fragrance with great amber warmth, saffron, and even raspberry. When it all comes together, it is a great experience to wear.

Between the two, I would think that most people would rather wear Tuscan Leather, as it has a more mass appealing smell and one that can even be worn by women.

Winner: Tuscan Leather