Men’s Fashion

Tuscan Leather by Tom Ford

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I’ve got a whole lot of Tom Ford fragrance write-ups to do over the next little while, so you can expect 20+ reviews, over the next months (?) as I get all of them written and sorted out. Today’s review, we have a fragrance from the Private Blend Collection, Tuscan Leather. It was released in 2007. How does this popular scent smell? What’s inside? How does it perform? Is it even worth a try?

What does Tuscan Leather Smell Like?

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 Full Review

The opening of Tuscan Leather is obviously full of the headlining leather note, but it is also joined by saffron, which brings to mind Godolphin by Parfums de Marly. However, what separates the Tom Ford creation, is the addition of a light raspberry note which sweetens up the background. It isn’t super juicy or girly, but that familiar aroma is there.

The leathery fragrance is obviously going to draw a lot of comparisons with one of the newer Tom Ford scents, Ombre Leather. I think Ombre is a drier fragrance than this is, but I will do a full comparison in the future.

The leather note in Tuscan Leather is utterly phenomenal. I’m a huge fan of this ingredient in fragrances and it is done to perfection here. Rich and super smooth, only made more so by the addition of the black suede note. It all comes together as very dark and deep.

As it dries down further, there is a subtle smokiness to Tuscan Leather, and a warmth provided by amber.

Beyond that, a faint jasmine note peaks in to the composition at times, but never quite unseats the saffron. In the end the main players are: leather, saffron, raspberry, and suede.

Leather and saffron are really great together in fragrances. Tuscan is a premier example of this, and that juicy raspberry note, just ties it all together.

Sillage, How Long it Lasts, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage on this one is really strong, at first. Then, it settles down into something more moderate. To me, I love its loudness and confidence, when it kicks off. I am reviewing the current formulation and the longevity isn’t what I remember it to be in the past.

It is still good, but doesn’t have that same all day and into the night performance that it used to. I can still hit around a standard work day with Tuscan Leather. So, now it’s about 8 hours. Before, it would get 10+ pretty easily.

Is this decline just in the batch I have? Not sure, but I’ve read some other reports of this as well. Nonetheless, Tuscan certainly isn’t ‘weak’ by any means. Maybe just lost a step.

Seasonally, this is a wintertime gem. It hangs beautifully in the chilled air. You could also break it out during the autumn months to great effect. I’d definitely avoid it in the summer months or if you happen to live in a tropical climate. Not great in the heat.

This Tom Ford fragrance is classy enough to be worn for business or formal occasions, but also, sexy enough to go out at night.

It’s pretty much an anytime wear during the winter months. Maybe not for totally casual occasions or for really young folks, but it wouldn’t feel completely, out of place.

This is classified as a unisex fragrance and it does fit that bill. However, it does lean more toward the masculine end of things. That being said, anyone can really wear this one. The raspberry and jasmine notes, really help to give Tuscan a lighter touch.

Overall Impressions of Tuscan Leather by Tom Ford

Overall, do I like Tuscan Leather? Of course. It is a really great leather fragrance, that is sophisticated, well blended, and smells awesome. Smooth as hell and the saffron/raspberry really add a nice touch to the whole composition.

If you’re not a leather fan, obviously avoid this one. However, for anyone else with that kind of money to drop on a $200+ bottle of Tom Ford, this is an excellent choice.

This has a less dry and earthy feeling than does Ombre Leather, and I slightly prefer that scent from Tom Ford. However, this is still a really great perfume, maybe not exactly what it once was…but it holds up.

The One Sport by Dolce & Gabbana

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Marching on with my reviews of recent fragrance samples I’ve received, I’m going to tackle a scent by Dolce & Gabbana, that is a flanker fragrance to The One for Men. The One sport is a fresh and obviously sporty take on the original but how does it stand up to its predecessor? Also, what does it smell like, and is it even worth a purchase?

What does The One Sport Smell Like?

Notes include: sequoia, rosemary, cardamom, musk, patchouli

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana The One Sport Eau De Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

I was a big fan of how the original The One by D&G smelled, in fact, it was one of my favorite scents ever…except for the fact that it lasted less than 20 minutes on my skin. So, I was curious as to what my experience with The One Sport would be in light of the weakness of the progenitor.

Upon first sniff, I immediately recognize a familiar aroma, and it’s that of Deep Energy by Adidas. That Adidas fragrance is another sporty scent for men and it shares a very large part of its character with this D&G cologne.

The notes between the two overlap with the cardamom, musk, patchouli, and a wood note (albeit different trees). Add to that, they are also quite watery/aquatic in nature.

The biggest difference between the two is that The One Sport has a rosemary note and Deep Energy uses citrus. The variation is actually pretty slight and these scents are very close to one another.

So, beyond smelling like a rosemary laced Deep Energy, The One Sport is a pretty linear affair. It’s a very basic scent that doesn’t really develop much personality or surprise you in anyway while wearing it. What you originally smell is essentially what you get throughout.

That’s not to say that I think that it doesn’t smell good. I mean, I like it, but I’m not blown away by the scent. It’s an upbeat and fresh scent with a bit of spice and wood. That’s about it. Straightforward and to the point.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this scent is pretty weak. It is fairly noticeable at first but then dies a quick death. Longevity is about an hour, maybe two, if you’re lucky.

It really does seem like The One Sport was designed to be worn at the gym and that’s it. Maybe casually on a summer’s day.

I honestly don’t know when else you would wear it. It doesn’t really smell sexy, and doesn’t last long enough, to be a workplace fragrance. So, it’s kind of pointless otherwise.

Overall Impressions of The One Sport

Overall, would I recommend The One Sport? I don’t see a reason to own this cologne. At this price point, it is very limited, if all you want to do is wear a fragrance at the gym why not just buy the Adidas scent for around $10? (Update: That’s not even possible anymore, at that price point)

You get basically the same scent and it actually performs better and lasts longer. The One Sport is just about completely pointless. It smells just fine, but offers nothing besides that. I’ll pass.

Somehow they decided to make a sport version of The One EDT, a scent with fairly notoriously bad performance. I know that this hasn’t been available for about a decade, but The One Sport is easily the worst of this D&G series.

Boss in Motion by Hugo Boss

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Another one of my recent sample hauls, yielded me a vial of Boss in Motion by Hugo Boss. I have already reviewed plenty of scents from this brand recently, including Element and Bottled Night. However, I still needed to address this cologne which was released by Hugo Boss back in 2002.

Though it isn’t a new scent, I figured I might as well give my thoughts on how it smells, how it performs, when it should be worn, and if it’s worth a purchase.

What does Boss in Motion Smell Like?

hugo boss in motion review

Notes include: pink pepper, basil flowers, musk, orange, bergamot, cinnamon

Click here to try: Boss In Motion By Hugo Boss For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3 Ounces

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Boss in Motion is kind of a mess, in my opinion. I get some weird blend of basil, pink pepper, musk, and a hint of orange that has a smoky and plastic scent to it. Needless to say, I was initially disappointed when I first sprayed this juice on.

However, while I was at the gym, I kept getting a pleasant whiff of Boss in Motion and its dry down phase, that is actually really good. I’d say the first 10-15 minutes, this cologne needs to work out its issues and then after that, you get a very nice sporty casual fragrance.

After that first phase, Boss in Motion becomes smooth and creamy with a main citrus note of orange with bergamot playing the background. There is still that spicy/smokey flavor to it but now plays a support role.

Honestly, Boss in Motion became a pleasant surprise for me, its fresh and masculine but doesn’t get drawn to far into the spicy or citrus direction…it has a solid balance.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, this Hugo Boss scent is moderate. It won’t choke out the room but you’ll notice it there. Perfect for casual situations.

It has pretty good longevity, as it should last you throughout an entire work day without having to reapply. With my sample, usually in the 6.5-8 hour range of wear. Not the best, but still quite good.

It is versatile enough to wear out on a date or night on the town but I like it as an everyday type of wear, especially outdoors. Boss in Motion probably isn’t at its best in the heat, so keep this strictly from fall to early spring.

Overall Impressions of Boss in Motion

Overall, is Boss in Motion a buy? I say, yes. Beyond its opening problems, its a solid performer, smells nice, and has a good bit of versatility of wear.

I wouldn’t put it at the top of my favorite Hugo Boss colognes, but it is a strong outing from this brand, and worth a look if it fits your style. It’s still among my favorites they’ve released in the past decades.

This one was pretty underrated and isn’t too available anymore. Though, there are still bottles floating around out there. The orange, spice, and smokiness comes together quite nicely.

Azzaro Pour Homme Night Time

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This is my full wear review of Azzaro Pour Homme Night Time, released in 2011 by Loris Azzaro. As I usually do, I’m going to cover what’s in it, how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not I think that this cologne is worth a purchase.

What does Azzaro Night Time Smell Like?

Notes include: bitter orange, vetiver, lavender, cedar, rhubarb

Click here to try: Loris Azzaro Azzaro Pour Homme Night Time Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

I’m not that much of a fan of bitter orange in my fragrances. and am not that enthusiastic about regular orange, most of the time either. However, the bitter orange note that is prominent in Night Time, isn’t bad and I actually kind of like it.

The original Azzaro Pour Homme, is a nice and inexpensive scent, it just never fit my style. I feel the same way about this one, also. Night Time shares some of the DNA with the original but it has much less of that dry wood scent and goes more into the combo of bitter orange and rhubarb.

Night Time has a different sort of spice, than its originator, and it’s quite fresh and warm. Though, you can still tell that this is a relative of Azzaro Pour Homme, which isn’t always the case with these flankers (see: La Nuit De L’Homme L’Intense).

The biter orange adds some zest to the composition and combined with rhubarb, it makes for an interesting aroma. Yet, it never strays into the realm of a pure citrus fragrance, and retains that sharp/dry woody greenery that made the original popular.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Night Time, is pretty good. It’s not a beast nor overwhelming but it definitely gets the job done…especially at this price point. I’d say that it’s above average, just not crazy loud.

The longevity is also quite good, but it’s not an extreme 12+ hour scent by any means. Though, it should last for most of the day. Around 7-9 hours.

I’d call this a good casual/work scent, and yes, it can be a nighttime fragrance for going to Happy Hour afterwards. It’s not particularly built for the summer (when I’m trying this sample), but it should be a great fit for the autumn/winter months.

Probably a better wear for guys in their mid-20s and up. Doesn’t have a very youthful or teenager type of aroma.

Overall Impressions of Azzaro Night Time

Overall, is Azzaro Pour Homme Night Time worth a look? I’d say, yes. Again, it’s not really my style but I do think it’s a fine cologne. If you liked the original, you’d probably like this. Also, since it’s so inexpensive, it’s a solid wear that you can try out without having to go broke.

It was released about a decade ago at this point and was never that popular. As such, it can be difficult to find a bottle nowadays. So, it may no longer be an inexpensive find. If that’s the case, don’t overpay for a bottle. Under $30? It’s worthwhile, if you like this kind of cologne.

Boss Soul by Hugo Boss

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So, even with all of the Hugo Boss fragrance reviews that I’ve done on this site so far, there are still many more on the market that I need to experience and write about. Some like Boss Soul, the subject of today’s post are scents that were released to the market over a decade ago (2005 in this case).

This particular scent was acquired along with the other samples in the huge batch that I got recently, and so I needed to wear it around and give my thoughts about Soul.

What does Boss Soul Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin orange, anise, cardamom, vetiver, vanilla, tonka bean, amber, lavender, cinnamon

Click here to try: Boss Soul By Hugo Boss For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3 Ounces

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Boss Soul is quite warm and smoky with a hint of orange, much like another Hugo Boss scent, Boss in Motion, but the orange is much weaker in this one while the cardamom takes the reins.

It gives off a grown up vibe that’s clean and dressed up but not all together super serious with some spice to give it a kick.

After a few minutes, the lavender and anise note begin to poke through, and really establish themselves. This helps to give Soul a smoothness and fresh feeling, which gives it a distinct separation from the Boss In Motion comparison.

It’s pretty subtle and the changes throughout its life cycle are as well. The spices calm down and it becomes more about amber, vanilla, and lavender. Boss Soul has a good smelling aroma, not the best thing ever, but I find it enjoyable.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection on Boss Soul is pretty weak but not awful. It might be considered a moderate, but nothing close to a monster.

The longevity isn’t so great either, somewhere around 3-4 hours, is what I’ve gotten out of it. The performance here is pathetic for a designer fragrance.

I’d say this is a casual cologne, that can be worn out for short occasions, and it does smell good enough for a date too, I suppose. This would probably work best in the Fall through early Spring.

Overall Impressions of Boss Soul

Overall, is Boss Soul worth a buy? Not really. I do like the way it smells, its fresh and quite masculine. However, it also can feel pretty bland and mixed with subpar performance, I don’t really see what place it would have in my own collection.

The whole fragrance is just sort of plain and not good enough to justify a purchase. If it lasted longer, had more intensity, and was the right price…then, I would consider it. It really doesn’t hit any of those metrics and I don’t see the point.

Either way, this scent came out over 15 years ago, and isn’t readily available. No real loss.