Men’s Fashion

Ice Men by Thierry Mugler

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Here we are with another Thierry Mugler fragrance review, which has become one of my favorite line of colognes out there, today. I received a sample of the 2007 release, Ice Men, which provides that cooling energy, but does it smell and perform well enough to make a full purchase out of it? In this post, I’m going to go over how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if I think that it is ultimately worth it.

What does Angel Ice Men Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, patchouli, nutmeg, musk

Click here to try: Angel Ice Men By Thierry Mugler For Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 1.7-Ounces

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Ice Men is a blast of crisp mint and patchouli that does as the names suggests and creates and icy aroma.

I think this cologne has an interesting dynamic from some of the other ‘Ice’ scents that I’ve smelled before. In that, it doesn’t rely on a citrus note like lemon and utilizes mint and nutmeg as some of the main players.

I’m not the biggest fan of the opening 20 minutes or so, as it has a bit too much patchouli for my tastes.

As it moves along, the nutmeg and the musk develop more and give Ice Men a rather unique scent. The patchouli settles down into its rightful place, as a backup player in this mix.

It’s quite fresh with a spicy kick to it but retains it’s chilled personality throughout. Honestly, it’s a pretty linear fragrance after the initial burst.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s okay, Ice Men starts out loud but quiets down a whole lot within an hour of application. From then on, it’s somewhat noticeable but mostly stays in the background.

Longevity, seems to be in the 4-5 hour range, which isn’t impressive at all. The scent is already pretty thin with development and then it also just quits earlier.

I think that’d I’d only use this stuff as a casual scent, maybe to wear at the gym or something like that. It’s not really a stand out fragrance but could be decent on a warmer day, just as a change of pace.

Overall Impressions of Angel Ice Men

Overall, this cologne smells pretty good, but it just strikes me as completely average. Not great, but not terrible in almost every respect. It’s definitely a step below the other Thierry Mugler colognes that I’ve reviewed on the site.

Pure Shot and Kryptomint by Mugler, have a similar style while being much better.

In that way, it’s kind of a disappointment, that it doesn’t live up to how good the others have been. I don’t see much use for Ice Men cologne, in my collection, but I don’t hate it either.

I do like the nutmeg and the icy aroma. There’s just not much else to this.

Update: This one is discontinued. You can still find it around online, but I wouldn’t pick it up unless you’re getting a massive discount on it. Certainly don’t overpay to acquire.

Polo Black vs Polo Double Black Cologne Comparison

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For this fragrance comparison, I want to take a closer look at two scents from the house of Ralph Lauren, Polo Black and its flanker Double Black. It is interesting that with a name like Black, that the original of the two was much more of a fruity fragrance than anything dark. Double Black retained a piece of Polo Black but took things in a different direction.

Now, which one smells better? Which performs better? When should they be worn? Continue below for the complete analysis.

Polo Black vs. Double Black

Polo Black Tale of the Tape

Notes include:  mango, sandalwood, tonka bean, tangerine, sage, lemon, patchouli

Click here to try: Polo Black by Ralph Lauren for Men – 4.2 Ounce EDT Spray

My review: Polo Black Review

Polo Double Black Tale of the Tape

Notes include: coffee, mango, juniper berry, nutmeg, cardamom, pepper, woods

Polo Double Black

Click here to try: Polo Double Black by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau De Toilette Natural Spray, 4.2 Ounce

Read my Polo Double Black Review

Opening

From the opening smell, it becomes clear that while these two colognes are related, they provide completely distinct experiences from one another. Polo Black is noticeably fruity from the start.

Now, this isn’t a very sweet type of fruity smell (think dried fruit pieces), the mango note is prominent from the get go but it does have a spicier profile at the start.

Double Black also contains the mango note, though, it is a background player and from the start it is a spicy/smooth blend of pepper and coffee. Polo Black also has citrus notes which gives it that extra bit of something, that sets it apart at the opening.

Edge: Black (slightly)

Projection

Both of these scents are moderate and while they do a decent job of projecting at the start, it isn’t a sustained output throughout the wear. I think due to the blend of the tonka bean, coffee, and pepper, that Double Black might have a slight edge in this respect.

At least that’s the case for the first hour or two. If Double Black doesn’t last on your skin, Polo Black will sustain for longer. At the peak? Double Black.

Edge: Double Black

Longevity

With a name like Double Black, you’d think that this fragrance would be all about longevity. It’s not. I tend to get 4-5 hours of wear out of Double Black, which is disappointing.

I really expected more from Double Black. The name makes you think that it’s going to be something much stronger and longer lasting. Nope. Not a lot of longevity, even with its bolder opening act.

Polo Black is usually better in this regard. Sometimes, it will drop off at 5 hours, but it will go further in most cases. Maybe 6-7.

Edge: Black (slightly)

Versatility

Both scents are safe and very nice choices for casual wear. I think the difference comes into the seasonal use of each. Double Black is well suited for fall/winter type of wear.

Meanwhile, Polo Black is almost like a year round scent, in that, it performs quite nicely in each…including the warmth of summer.

Edge: Black

Overall Scent

I really warmed up to Double Black more and more, as I got through my sample of it. I’m a fan of tonka bean scents and this one also has a gourmand edge with the coffee, a spice with pepper, and enough sweetness to fully round out the scent. I like wearing Double Black.

However, Polo Black is a little bit better smelling and my opinion and has enough of an edge performance wise to merit a victory.

Its fruity notes are really unique and well done plus it has a woodsy heart, that helps it maintain a masculine vibe.

Neither one hits it completely out of the park. Though, Polo Black is a very good cologne. I wish the sillage and longevity was better, but it’s not terrible, and it smells very nice.

Update: Double Black has been discontinued for a while now. Not a big loss, even if it could’ve been really nice with some weight behind it. So, you’ll have to go with the still available Polo Black, unless you want to spend a ton of money for a not as good cologne.

Winner: Polo Black

Just Cavalli Him by Roberto Cavalli

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Here is the last review from the box of my recent samples and I should be ordering my bottles of cologne and perfume soon to check out. Today’s scent is a release by Roberto Cavalli from 2004, Just Cavalli Him.

This isn’t some best seller or big time scent that everyone raved about, so I was interested to see what this cologne was all about. In this post, I’ll give an overview of how it smells, performs, and whether or not I think Just Cavalli Him is worth a buy.

What does Just Cavalli Him Smell Like?

just cavalli him cologne review

Notes include: ginger, bergamot, cardamom, clary sage, geranium, cedar, coriander 

Click here to try: Just Cavalli by Roberto Cavalli for Men – 2 Ounce EDT Spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Just Cavalli Him strikes me as something that is quite different from many other men’s fragrances. It is very fresh with a herbal spice to it provided by the dominant ginger note.

The sleeve that my sample vial came with, classifies this as a woody aromatic cologne, and that description is right on the money. There is something that is wholly herbal and outdoorsy about this scent, with just a hint of citrus to give it a summery feel, which is the bergamot note in action.

It kicks off with the citrus and ginger, as the two main notes. With that are a blend of various spices, I pick up a good deal of rosemary, some sage, and a bit of nutmeg. However, it all starts to blend together and can be difficult to pick out.

Him has an energetic feeling to it and it seems like it would fall in the 20-30s age range for potential wearers. It’s clean and almost has a soapy quality to its presentation.

As it wears on, the citrus from the bergamot becomes more noticeable but it never loses that spicy/herbal/woody trio that sets it apart.

Sillage, Longevity, and When to Wear

Projection wise, Just Cavalli Him is pretty soft. It has decent projection for awhile but it is by no means a beast. It actually does have good longevity, which is nice to have with a softer cologne.

It should provide about 6 hours or more of solid wear. Wearing it three times, it stayed in the 5-7 hour range on my skin. Wasn’t exactly consistent, but quite range bound.

This is a casual fragrance and is safe to wear at work or school. I guess it could be used as a date night scent, but it isn’t extremely sexy or anything. I would definitely reserve this cologne for the summer or spring.

Overall Impressions of Just Cavalli Him

Overall, is Just Cavalli Him, worth a buy? Maybe. It is inexpensive at this point, if you can still find a bottle. It’s a pleasant cologne, but it isn’t some amazing scent by any stretch of the imagination.

It gets the job done, however and I do like it more than the I Love Him flanker that Cavalli put out. It’s solid, smells fresh, and offers a pretty unique scent.

Update: I think that this 2004 version, has pretty much vanished from most places. From what I gather, there’s a newer release with the same name, but entirely different notes. Oh well, it wasn’t too amazing to need to track a bottle down.

Declaration d’Un Soir EDT by Cartier

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For today’s review, I’m going to take a closer look at a fragrance from the house of Cartier, Declaration d’Un Soir for men. Now, this scent is a flanker of the original Cartier Declaration. This one was released back in 2012. As usual, I want to give an overview of how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and whether or not it is worth a purchase.

What does Declaration D’un Soir Smell Like?

declaration d'un soir review

Notes include: cumin, rose, pepper, sandalwood, nutmeg

Click here to try: Cartier Declaration D’un Soir Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

From the start, let me state that Declaration d’Un Soir, probably isn’t for everyone. It is a fairly unique scent that will work very well for guys who have a certain taste. The opening of this cologne is a blast of rose and pepper.

The rose note is dominate for the first 10 minutes or so before the pepper, sandalwood, and nutmeg notes catch up to it. In this one, don’t expect a red rose smell, more pink…but sort of greenish, also.

I have to say, I quite like the use of the rose in Declaration d’Un Soir, it doesn’t feel feminine like some other scents that utilize this note. I’m not even a big fan of the smell of rose, but I like what Cartier has done here.

The pepper and nutmeg give this one a great spiciness, that never goes overboard with its intensity. It seems to be held in check and mellowed by the smoothness of the sandalwood and soft floral scent of the rose.

Actually, aside from the change after the first ten minutes or so, this cologne stays pretty constant. What you smell is what you get. Fresh cool spice, with a great rose, and woody base. Simple and quite enjoyable.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Declaration d’Un Soir is very solid, not too light or not too heavy. You’ll know it’s there, but it won’t envelop you. I’d say its reach with normal spraying hits the 4-6 foot range.

On the longevity side of things, this is an absolutely magnificent performer. I’m talking 10+ hours of use on most occasions, it is just a workhorse. Really wasn’t expecting it to be. Though, with repeated tries over the years, it always keeps up.

This is a good scent for casual wear, especially in the fall or springtime. That’s when I would wear it. However, it goes way beyond just that. Soir can really be worn year round and is appropriate for a wide variety of situations.

It’s not a ‘club’ kind of fragrance, so, maybe that’s its one exception. If you need a super bold cologne for nights out, you might go with another. Also, I might go with something else in the high heat. Not that this is terrible there, either. Just more of a preference.

Outside of that? This is pretty much a full go. This Cartier is crazy versatile.

Overall Impressions of Declaration d’Un Soir

Overall is Declaration d’Un Soir, worth a buy? I’d say yes. If you want something a bit different that performs very well, then this might be the scent. You have to like rose/spicy/earthy/woodsy type of fragrances to appreciate this one.

If that’s not you, look elsewhere. I don’t think this is going to become a part of my main rotation. However, I do think it has a place within my collection.

The smell is cool, fresh, and is a great example of a masculine rose scent. Super versatile and the aroma has a lot of appeal to me.

Update: This one is now discontinued, as it came out over a decade ago. It was popular, but not popular enough to get the perpetual release schedule like other favorites. It’s worth tracking down, but I wouldn’t pay too much for a bottle.

Play by Givenchy

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Another one of the recent samples, I’ve received is Play by Givenchy. It came out almost ten years ago and they describe it as a fresh woody scent. I’d actually put it more into the citrus/spice category, though. In this post, I want to give an overview of how it smells, how Play performs, and whether or not this Givenchy cologne is a buy.

What does Play by Givenchy Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, bitter orange, grapefruit, coffee flower accord, amyris wood, vetiver

Click here to try: Givenchy Play for Men by Givenchy 3.3 oz 100 ml EDT Spray

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Givenchy Play is a blend of citrus, mainly dominated by grapefruit, and a spicy pepper note. I am immediately struck by how this smells exactly like Hugo Red, if you replaced the metallic note in Red with a coffee note in Play.

Seriously, these two are almost dead ringers for one another. Since I like wearing Hugo Red in the summer; I like Givenchy Play. As Play develops more, the coffee note becomes more noticeable which give it an interesting richness, that gives it that slight difference from Red.

That’s for the opening act, it becomes more distinct from the Boss scent, after that.

Moving along, Play continues its freshness with the variety of citrus notes, and the oncoming base woodsy notes. Amyris wood? That’s the note, not sure I’ve encountered it though. Pretty generic wood smell.

Vetiver has some prominence here, though, it doesn’t strike me as powerful. Citrus with a clean spice and a fresh earthy/woods aroma.

So, mostly citrus and spice. The coffee note isn’t as strong, as it is in Play Intense. It’s not too complicated, however, a fun wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Play is pretty moderate, and might even be slightly weaker than Hugo Red. The sillage isn’t going to go beyond a few feet, except upon the initial spray. Definitely not a powerhouse, by any stretch.

It’s longevity is pretty decent, around 6-7 hours of solid performance. Pretty standard. Many citrus colognes like this one, don’t last very long. This is actually decent, in this category, as some fade after 2-3 hours.

To me, this is a spring/summer type of scent that is good for casual everyday wear. You could wear this in semi-formal situations or out at night, also. Still, I mainly wore the sample around town, when it was warm and sunny out.

Overall Impressions of Play

Overall, is Play a buy? It’s a very nice fragrance but it smells like Hugo Red and you can get a larger bottle of that for cheaper. Update: Givenchy Play came out in 2008. Nowadays, you’ll probably have to pony up a lot of money to get a bottle. Paying a few hundred for this stuff is absurd. For cheap, it’s worth a try.

However, if you were looking into Givenchy Play Intense as well, it would make sense to grab Hugo Red and a bottle of Play Intense too.

The Intense version is much more of a gourmand scent for the cooler months of the year and has way less of the citrus and more of the coffee and a tonka bean note.

I really like the citrus here and the light coffee. I dig summertime citrus colognes and I enjoyed wearing Play. Not my favorite, but was a solid example from the last decades.