La Nuit de L’Homme Eau Electrique by YSL

On my way out of El Prat airport, I once again stopped into a duty free shop to explore the fragrance selection, and came across a newer offering from Yves Saint Laurent…La Nuit de L’Homme Eau Electrique. The blue color and the name caught my eye, so I figured that I would try this one out and wear it on the flight home. In this post, I am going to give my initial impressions and opinions about this cologne after a single wear.


What does La Nuit Eau Electrique Smell Like?

Notes include: cedar, vanilla, tonka bean, cashmere, vetiver, lavender, apple, geranium, bergamot

Click here to try: Yves Saint Laurent La Nuit De L’Homme Eau Electrique Eau De Toilette Spray 100ml/3.3oz


My Full Wear Review

OK, so, going into this test I had zero expectations or notions about Electrique. In fact, I’d never even heard of it. I think that’s the best way to do a review of this sort, since my mind won’t be clouded by what I ‘wanted’ the cologne to be, and can simply judge it based on merit.

I sprayed this one twice on my arm about an hour or so before my transatlantic flight back to the US from Spain. Update: I’ve since had a travel spray size of Eau Electrique and am updating my thoughts throughout this post.

It initially struck me as smooth with a creamy/powdery offering of tonka bean with a woody base and some fruit thrown in to boot. Electrique was really fresh and drew me in from the very jump and I could smell it on me as I walked to my boarding gate.

That’s a very simple test of whether or not I think something is worth my while, is it an enjoyable addition to the background of my everyday life? For Electrique, I vote that yes, it is.

Eau Electrique opens with a noticeable apple and some citrus notes. The apple, tonka, vanilla, and lavender are really present up top with the main tonka bean note. Really, apple and tonka bean.

Then, the second wave brings in geranium paired with that lavender sitting under a tonka/vanilla combo.

The notes in Electrique have some overlap with Versace Eros, but, I think they are two different fragrances and the similarities aren’t that noticeable.

Eros is a much louder and has more of a citrusy aroma than does Electrique, though, the tonka bean and apple notes are shared.

Update: I could also compare this to Montblanc’s Legend Night, but noticeably lacking the heavy cardamom note.

Electrique is understated and while it has some sweet elements, it never becomes overbearing. I think the prevalence of the cashmere was a nice touch and gives Electrique some more separation from the original La Nuit.


Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Electrique was good during my one off test. It was noticeable during the wear and even kind of heavy at first. It isn’t a complete beast or anything but it is getting close to crossing that line.

I got 7-8 hours of use out of it. The last few hours it was more of a skin scent. However, I can’t really say for certain how it will perform with just one wear but it seems legit enough. Update: Yep, 6-8 hours, consistently.

Electrique is more suited toward cold weather wear. It worked fine in an air conditioned environment but I’m not sure that’ll hold up in the heat. Update: Not great in high heat, but moderate springtime temperatures, it is fine.

It does seem to have some versatility as both a casual fragrance and one which will work as a date night type of cologne.


Overall Impressions of Eau Electrique

Overall, is La Nuit de L’Home Eau Electrique worth a buy? I actually really liked wearing this fragrance. It’s nothing Earth shattering; but it is very good. It gives good performance and has a very attractive scent with a tangential relation to the original La Nuit.

It’s a good bet as an Eros alternative, if you don’t like the lemon note there. Also, the geranium can come across a bit like mint. It’s not a dupe, but they do have a very similar style.

Eau Electrique has now been discontinued, so, grab a bottle while you still can for cheap.

Electrique is a smooth and fresh fragrance with a powdery finish and a woody heart. It’s not super outstanding or ‘special’ but it is really damn nice.

4 Best Smelling Michael Jordan Colognes

Michael Jordan is not only a basketball icon, he is also one of the most famous people on the planet. Younger people from across the globe, who never actually saw him play a game, still buy his shoes and clothing at a high rate.

Back in the late 1990s, Jordan capitalized on this popularity by launching a celebrity fragrance line. In this post, I want to pick the four best scents that have been launched under the Michael Jordan name, and talk a bit about what makes each one worth a try.


What are the Best Michael Jordan Fragrances?

Most Popular

Michael Jordan Men Eau De Cologne Spray, 1.7 Ounce– The original and still among the best of this line of fragrances. Though, I wouldn’t rank it the highest, this fragrance from his Airness has a certain fresh quality to it.

It’s a blend of citrus and green/woodsy elements. Fairly synthetic but clean. The citrus notes open things up. Then, the herbal and greenish notes start to come through to up that freshness. Juniper and cypress are the main ingredients that I can pick out from the aroma.

After that, it’s a woodsy/musky blend, which gives Michael Jordan cologne a somewhat soapy cleanliness.



Best for Summer

Michael Jordan 23 By Michael Jordan For Men. Cologne Spray 3.4 Ounces– 23 is a cologne that kind of hits you with a bit of misdirection. It starts off like a standard aquatic with citrus and melon notes but then becomes more floral and interesting, led by a geranium note.

It’s a solid casual wear for the warmer months, at a cheap price point. There is a spicy freshness that comes through during the wear. Mainly, I get a watery fruitiness up top, geranium clean, with an additional magnolia. The performance isn’t that great, but it’s also like $15…


Best Overall Jordan Scent

Michael Jordan Flight Cologne For Men 3.4 oz Eau De Toilette Spray – Flight is a nice little substitute fragrance, sort of like a Designer Impostor’s scent. It has a lot of similarities to numerous fragrances, most notably, L’Homme by YSL.

They don’t strike me as exactly the same, Flight is more in your face and spicy than is L’Homme. Still, for the price, a good bet.

That being said, the spiciness isn’t overly intense, it comes across as a clean and fresh aroma. That then, is blend with a bit of amber and a citrus smell.


Best Performance

Mîchael Jordan Legend Cologné for Men 3.4 oz Cologne Spray– Legend is a sneaky good fragrance from the Jordan line and probably gives the best performance out of any of them. Sweet and warm with an aroma close to that of Rochas Man.

It’s main notes include coffee, leather, amber, lavender, and anise. Legend is a cold weather cologne that delivers. Not overly warm and heavy, like the more expensive gourmand fragrances. This one is thinner, but still brings a pleasant and pretty long lasting scent.

Eau de Lacoste L.12.12. Rouge vs Blanc Cologne Comparison

In this cologne comparison, I want to take a closer look at two options from Lacoste’s L.12.12. line of men’s fragrances, Blanc and Rouge.  Which one of these scents, Red or White, is the better buy in terms of overall smell, performance, and function.

I have linked out to each of my original reviews of these colognes below and present my thoughts on each further in detail in those posts. For this, I break it down into different categories and assign whether one has the edge over the other.


Tale of the Tape: Lacoste Blanc vs. Rouge

L.12.12 Blanc

lacoste l.12.12 white

Notes include: cardamom, grapefruit, ylang-ylang, cedar, rosemary, suede, tuberose, leather

Click here to try: Lacoste Eau de Lacoste L.12.12 Blanc Eau de Toilette for Men, 3.3 fl. oz.

Read my original review: L.12.12 White


L.12.12 Rouge

FullSizeRender (26)

Notes include: ginger, mango, black pepper, mandarin liqueur, cardamom, red roiboos tea

Click here to try: Lacoste Eau de Lacoste L.12.12 Rouge Eau de Toilette for Men, 3.3 fl. oz.

Read my original review: Lacoste Red Review


Opening

The openings of both of these colognes are really good. Lacoste Red has an interesting mango note for that summery vibe, while White starts with an energetic grapefruit/floral/woodsy mix.

Blanc has the grapefruit citrus with a fresh woody cedar note. This is joined by the suede/leather smoothness and some warm cardamom and herbal rosemary. It’s got the floral elements, though, it comes across as earthy.

Rouge starts off with that nice mango, some mandarin liqueur, and a unique tea note. I like the uniqueness of this blend, especially early on in the wear.

I have to say, neither one is head or shoulders above the other during the opening, so I’ll say it’s a push for this category. They both start out quite well.

Edge: Push


Projection

Neither is a beast throughout the entire process but they do both project pretty well at the start. I’d say White is the brighter and more noticeable of the two and it tends to have better longevity in terms of projection, as well.

Edge: White


Longevity

So, neither of these are all that great with longevity. Right around 4-5 hours but Red seems to do less than that sometimes, which sucks. White has the edge while still not being a great performer itself.

Edge: White


Versatility

Both scents are pleasant and casual wears for the warmer months of the year. They don’t have the projection or longevity to be a ‘club/nightlife’ cologne. You could use either one for a date but they aren’t particularly sexy. Just fresh and clean for casual situations.

Edge: Push


Overall Scent

I think that White smells better and is the better performer. I like Red and wouldn’t mind wearing it, if the longevity were better. L.12.12. White just has more energy and a great smell. It too suffers a bit with longevity but it’s passable.

I think that Blanc is a good cologne for springtime and it definitely has the edge between the two in my book.

Winner: White 

Azzaro Chrome vs Azzaro Pour Homme Comparison

In today’s cologne comparison, we have a head to head match up between two very popular fragrances from Azzaro: Chrome and Azzaro Pour Homme. As usual, I am going to break down each scent and compare them based on different metrics and ultimately pick a winner as to which of these two colognes smells the best and is the better purchase option.


Tale of the Tape: Azzaro Pour Homme vs Chrome

Azzaro Chrome

Men’s Chrome by Azzaro Eau de Toilette Spray – 3.4 oz.

Notes include: ylang ylang, lemon, pineapple, musk, woods, and jasmine

My Full Review: Azzaro Chrome 


Azzaro Pour Homme

Notes include: oakmoss, amber, musk, cedar, juniper berries, lavender, lemon, anise, and more

Click here to try Azzaro Pour Homme: Azzaro By Azzaro For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 6.8 oz

My full Review: Azzaro Pour Homme Review


Opening

Azzaro Pour Homme opens up with an extremely fresh aroma consisting of very dry woodsy notes with an underlying spice. The spice isn’t too intense and the main notes that I gather from the start are oak moss, anise, and cedar. It’s dry and cool with a smoothly calming lavender note.

Chrome has an upbeat and refreshing opening of fruit notes, including pineapple and lemon. Paired with that is a floral combination of ylang ylang and jasmine on top of some earthy woods.

Between the two I like the vibrant citrus feeling that Chrome gives off, Azzaro is more earthy/woodsy, and while well done it doesn’t strike me as all that interesting.

Edge: Chrome


Projection

Neither of these scents really dominates in terms of their sillage. Azzaro Pour Homme is fairly moderate and steady throughout the wear.

Chrome may seem more intense at first, but I chalk that up to the citrus notes being sharp. No real winner here.

Edge: Push


Longevity

I get great longevity from both of these scents. This is another category where there really isn’t much of a difference. However, I think that Azzaro Pour Homme usually gives me an extra hour or more of performance.

Edge: Pour Homme (slightly)


Versatility

Seasonally, Chrome is more for the warmer weather while Pour Homme is better for colder temperatures. However, Chrome can be worn year round (it just has more of a summer vibe), while Azzaro Pour Homme doesn’t hold up as well in hot weather.

I would also say that Azzaro Pour Homme is better at being used for dressed up occasions than is Chrome. It’s more low key, masculine, and doesn’t have that same intense citrus that can be out of place. On the other hand, Chrome is more of a casual cologne.

One could honestly have pretty much all bases covered with just these two scent, assuming he enjoyed how they both smelled.

Edge: Push


Overall Scent

Between the two, I’d rather wear Chrome. It’s just much more my style than is Pour Homme. I don’t dislike Pour Homme, it has a very masculine, old school, soapy/clean aroma. Also, it is well blended and offers more complexity than the straightforward Chrome.

It really boils down to what kind of fragrance you prefer because these two perform pretty much neck and neck.

Chrome is a hyper-clean fruit laden fragrance with a metallic edge and a drydown with a floral/woods accord.

Azzaro Pour Homme is much more earthy, creamy, and like a classic soap. It is refined but never too proper.

Me? I like the first one better. In it’s simplicity, Chrome really delivers an affordable performer for everyday wear.

Winner: Chrome

Mont Blanc Legend Spirit vs. Invictus

In this head to head men’s fragrance match up, I am going to be taking a closer look at the ever popular Invictus vs. Legend Spirit, a flanker scent release by Mont Blanc. Which of these men’s colognes, smells the best? Lasts the longest? Is the better buy overall? I have revisited each in the past week, to gather my thoughts and impressions of these colognes, and will break them down by category.


Tale of the Tape: Spirit vs Invictus

Legend Spirit

Notes include: grapefruit, pink pepper, bergamot, musk, aquatic accord, lavender, cardamom, oak moss, wood

Click here to try: MONTBLANC Legend Spirit Eau de Toilette, 3.3 Fl Oz

Read my review: Legend Spirit


Invictus

Notes include: grapefruit, sea notes, mandarin orange, bay leaf, jasmine

Read my review

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne Invictus Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce


Opening

Invictus opens up with bay leaf, ambergris, and citrus notes. It is sweet and fruity, with an aquatic aroma, and smells a bit like grape-flavored bubblegum. The dry down becomes more of an aquatic/amber/jasmine laden scent, but I have grown to really appreciate the top notes here. To me, the citrus in the opening, is my favorite part of the scent.

Legend Spirit also opens up with citrus and an aquatic accord, but is joined by the warmth/spice of pink pepper and cardamom. It is really nice and clean, quite pleasant, with a different feel from the original Legend.

Which is better? I think Legend Spirit is an improvement on the original and quite good. However, when wearing both scents around again last week, I found myself much more drawn to the opening of Invictus. I was never that big of a fan, but I’ve come around to like it, and it’s better than the Mont Blanc.

Edge: Invictus


Projection

The sillage of Invictus is pretty strong at first and can absolutely be bold from the jump. Though, it does calm down into more of a moderate on my skin. Meanwhile, Legend Spirit is fairly moderate, and never achieves the same power as the Paco Rabanne.

Edge: Invictus


Longevity

Legend Spirit is good for 5-6 hours, not that great, but not terrible. Invictus gives me 6-7 hours on my skin, but others can get it to go longer. I’d say it has the advantage.

For me, all of the Invictus line lasts longer than the Legend lineup, save Legend Night.

Edge: Invictus


Versatility

Both fragrances are extremely versatile in their uses. They are warmer weather fragrances, but can fit in, year round. Both can go from casual to work or out at night. Invictus is better for night clubs, but Legend Spirit is probably more mature. There isn’t much separation in this category.

Edge: Push


Overall Scent

When it comes down to it which scent smells the best? I like Legend Spirit. It is a great mix of aquatic, dry spice, and citrus blended together with some of that Legend DNA. The performance is decent and it is a clean and fresh blend, that is a bit more complex than the original, and does some very nice things.

Invictus is the better to the two, however. I’ve never been a huge fan of this cologne, but I am liking it more than I used to. That opening is sweet and attractive, it’s a great choice for younger guys, and this fragrance seems to get complements.

Plus, the sillage and longevity is better overall. Is it head and shoulders above? No, but I’d reach for Invictus more often than Legend Spirit.

Winner: Invictus