Men’s Fashion

7 Best Smelling Cartier Colognes for Men

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Cartier is a world famous jeweler. However, it is also a very good fragrance designer for both men and women. For this list, I have selected seven of those colognes for guys, and what I consider to be the best of the bunch.

The brand doesn’t seem to have too many new releases in comparison to most of the other major designers out there. Jewelry is their main focus still.

They do have a wide variety of choices, though, some of which have gotten discontinued and more difficult to find over the years.  As always, each scent is linked to its page on Amazon for both ease of purchase and further information.

What Are the Top Cartier Perfumes for Him?

Citrus Clean 

Eau De Cartier By Cartier For Men and Women, Eau De Toilette Spray, 6.75-Ounce Bottle
This is a unisex fragrance, so it won’t be a good choice for guys who want something wholly masculine. However, this is a good and light choice for those who like a citrus based fragrance that settles down into something more earthy.

Eau de Cartier opens up with it lemon and bergamot, that is joined by the fresh spiciness of coriander.  From there, you get lavender and violet, giving it the floral edge. Cedar sits at the base for a touch of woody freshness. Clean and one that is extremely easy to wear.

eaucartier

Honey Woods 

L’Envol de Cartier Eau de Toilette Spray, 2.7 oz.– I’m adding this one to the list because it is great. Pretty unique and simple in its presentation, L’Envol, features top notes of ambrosia and citrus.

Beyond that, the thick warmth of honey comes through to balance out the initial citrus aroma. It’s a sweet fragrance with a powdery finish and base notes of Gaiac wood and musk. Actually isn’t as heavy of a scent as you might think and can indeed venture outside of the winter months.

Not too complex, but one that might have a limited audience, as it is a floral and sweet cologne…while still being entirely masculine.

Most Popular Cartier Fragrance

Declaration By Cartier For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 100 ml
This is one is much more manly. It has a spicy scent to it yet also woodsy notes and some bitter orange.

That note is similar to Terre D’Hermes (which I dislike) but this one is done much better in my opinion, as the orange and presentation isn’t overwhelming and off putting.

Declaration is deep and spicy, right from the jump, and there is dry smokiness provided by birch. Cardamom, caraway, and pepper are all here, which can be off-putting for some.

However, there is still the softer side with floral notes, including neroli. An interesting fragrance and definitely an original from decades past.

declaration

Warm, Woody, and Spicy

Cartier Pasha De Cartier Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Fluid Ounce
Masculine, fresh, a bit sweet, and a crispy spice. Pasha De Cartier is a great fragrance that projects well and lasts long, especially in the colder months.

Oakmoss and mint, give it a dry freshness, and then the same caraway note is here as it was in Declaration.

The scent warms up, while retaining its green outdoorsy depth, and the coolness of the mint. When you hit the base notes, Pasha becomes quite woody, and laden with lavender. Nice development.  Notes include: mint, citrus, amber, caraway.

pasha

A New Declaration

Declaration EDP– It’s definitely a flanker of the original, with plenty of overlap, but this one ramps up the spice, particularly early on.

Cinnamon is massive in the opening act, which is nice for me, as I love that note. You also still get ginger and a cardamom note. Cardamom will become more heavy in the mix, once the other two have burned off.

So, yes, this is a warm and spicy sort of cologne. Yet, you will still get enough freshness in the blend to keep it light. The black tea note here is nice, the aroma feels somewhat smoky, but it’s a clean spicy blend that enhances aspects of the original Declaration.

Less woodsy and floral in comparison, while still retaining its similarities.

Top Springtime Pick

Roadster by Cartier for Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3-Ounces
A fragrance which features notes of vetiver, mint, bergamot, vanilla, and patchouli. Roadster is a very ‘green’ type of fragrance, with mint as its main note.

It’s got a smooth lightness from the vanilla note and the vetiver gives it a masculine quality. Rather unique overall, but simple.

The opening is the mint with a spritz of the bergamot citrus and vanilla sweetness hanging in the background. As it develops further, the patchouli breaks through, giving Roadster more of an outdoorsy quality.

Finally, you get the vetiver note, which brings things all together and Roadster has an almost gourmand edible quality.

Patchouli is often used to give fragrances a candy-like or baked goods smell. Here when paired with the vanilla, vetiver, and mint; you do get a somewhat chocolatey vibe during some of the wear. The performance on Roadster is solid, but it isn’t a projection beast, by any means.

roadster

Best Cartier for Winter

Cartier Santos De Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.3 Ounce
Throwback to the 1980s. On the opposite end of the spectrum from Eau De Cartier, Santos, won’t be mistaken for a unisex fragrance at all. Spicy and woodsy with notes of amber, pepper, and sandalwood.

Santos starts off with a bit of a different tone, than what it’ll eventually settle down into. There is citrus at the top paired with juniper, along with prominent basil, and lavender. It’s got a upbeat and bright freshness to it, that invigorates.

As it dries down, there is a smoky woody aroma, led by sandalwood and the pepper/basil combo. The spice here is prevalent, but not annoyingly in your face, because it gets subdued by the trio of sandalwood/lavender/amber.

Since this is an older cologne, all of the bottles out there won’t smell the same. Reformulations happen, so the exact composition, may be slightly different depending on what bottle you get.

santos

This is my current list of the top Cartier scents for guys. I will periodically come back and update the page, as newer fragrances are released, that I feel are deserving of a spot. As of now, this should get you started, since there are colognes which will suit almost anyone’s personal style.

Ranking the Best Spicebomb Fragrances

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Spicebomb is the signature men’s line from Viktor & Rolf, the counterpart to the vast array of Flowerbomb releases on the women’s side of things. Since the release of Spicebomb EDT, the designer has steadily released different flankers to capitalize on that initial popularity.

But, now that we have so many options to choose from by V&R, which are the best? I am  going to use this page to keep a running tab on my favorites by ranking and to link my full reviews, as I release them.

Ranking My Favorite Spicebomb Colognes

Note: I’ll update the list once I’ve gotten to try out the new Metallic Musk flanker release.

The Top Spot

Spicebomb Extreme– This one is still the best Spicebomb in terms of how it smells. However, it might not be the best pick for everyone.

Extreme is very much a colder weather sort of fragrance and it can really be a massive tobacco and vanilla scent at times. So, if that’s not your thing you might want to go for something like Night Vision instead.

Extreme opens with that heavy tobacco, sweet vanilla, some lavender, and a touch of spice. Again, it’s not overly spicy, in comparison. Instead it’s smooth, warm, and sweet.

This fragrance is mainly about the tobacco note, more than any spices, which seem to just play backup. Tobacco, vanilla, spices, and saffron/lavender. Has this sweetish, somewhat gourmand quality.

Spicebomb Extreme has great performance and is well worth checking out. Spicebomb Extreme review

Original Appeal

Spicebomb EDT– Currently, the original is basically neck and neck to me with Night Vision EDP. I could easily swap these two on the list.

Spicebomb opens with that spice going strong already and a pretty noticeable mix of grapefruit and bergamot.

Beyond that, pink pepper comes through with the cinnamon blend in a pretty even split at first. Feels like a 60/40 split to me, but cinnamon will increasingly take over.

As it develops, that sharp spice blast settles down and gets smoothed out by the heart notes emerging. I get plenty of saffron and vetiver, which gives Spicebomb more maturity compared to that youthfully energetic opening.

Leather slips in very lightly during the middle, adding to the smoothness and character of this cologne.

The performance isn’t quite as good as it used to be, but still a useful scent to have in the rotation. Spicebomb review

Cool Vision

Spicebomb Night Vision EDP– Night Vision EDP is one that I liked wearing a lot, but it was never a complete love. Far and away better than the EDT version, though. Just a better balance and mix.

Nightvision EDP kicks off woodier and with cooler spiciness than the original or others in this line. I get some lemon essence and red pepper up top that gives it familiarity to the EDT, though this one isn’t as sweet to my nose.

The spices here seem to be a black and red pepper blend. But the clary sage note is what really jumps out to me after the opening starts to fade. It’s fresh and cool but also gets smoothed out by the woody base notes.

The wood is fir, but this is fir balsam, giving it that benzoin-like smell.

From here, it’s pretty straightforward. The spiciness fades and it becomes more about aromatic freshness, which lets some of the sweetness peek back through. Night Vision EDP review

The performance is pretty good, not great. The scent is good, not great. But, it gives you a cooler sort of fresh spice versus the more in your face spiciness of the original. Night Vision eau de parfum review

A Sweeter Spice

Spicebomb Infrared EDT– I bought a bottle of Infrared when it came out. I wear it on occasion, but not that often anymore. The red berry and tobacco mix with cinnamon is really bold and can be quite sweet.

I don’t think the eau de parfum really improved anything over this initial Infrared release. They’re about the same in terms of how much I enjoy them or if I want a leather note (the EDP).

Apparently this one has been discontinued. So, if you want to try Infrared EDT, you’ll probably have to find it online before the remaining stocks gets too expensive. Infrared EDT review

Second Infrared

Spicebomb Infrared EDP– Again, not really any better than the EDT, in my opinion. Some may prefer this, but to me they’re about the same in terms of my enjoyment wearing each of these.

This is a bit fresher and feels smoother in the dry down with its leather note. The leather is blended well and isn’t completely taking over the composition. It’s good, but I don’t need a bottle, since I already have EDT.

In the grand scheme of things, it’s near the bottom of the list for me, while still being a pretty good cologne overall.

More Leather

Spicebomb Dark Leather– Well, if you like leather but don’t want to go with the Infrared option, Viktor & Rolf came out with Spicebomb Dark Leather.

I’ve only tried this once, so, I don’t have a complete review on it. But, for now, this is where I’m putting this Spicebomb on the list. I like it, but wasn’t something that really grabbed my attention.

I remember it having a peppery start, with more of a softer cinnamon accompanying the leather and tobacco notes. Still, this one is more leather heavy than Infrared EDP, some nice spice mixture.  Yet, it didn’t seem all that powerful in terms of performance.

Another Night

Spicebomb Night Vision EDT– Night Vision EDT is my least favorite. The eau de parfum is much better, if you want this same sort of style, and every other cologne on the list is better if you don’t.

With this one, I tend to really notice the sage and geranium notes. For whatever reason, those two are really heightened on my skin.

The opening is some light grapefruit, spice, and tonka bean along with the aforementioned notes. The scent has some high points, but is fairly forgettable overall. Also, the performance isn’t great, I only get around 5 hours of wear from Night Vision EDT.

Le Male Elixir Absolu Vs SWY Intensely

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Le Male Elixir Absolu follows on the heels of the very popular Elixir, as a part of the best-selling Le Male series from Jean Paul Gaultier. It’s entry as a bold and somewhat sweet cologne, is naturally going to draw plenty of comparisons with the other usual cold weather choices.

Stronger with You Intensely by Emporio Armani, is one of those usual choices. But, which of these men’s fragrances is actually better? Which lasts longer

Tale of the Tape: SWY Intensely vs. Elixir Absolu

Stronger With You Intensely

Notes include: pink pepper, cinnamon, toffee, lavender, sage, suede, amber, violet, vetiver

Click here to try: Intensely

My Full Review: Stronger with You Intensely

Le Male Elixir Absolu

Notes include: lavender, tonka bean, plum

Click here to try: Le Male Elixir Absolu

Read my review: Elixir Absolu

Opening

Stronger With You Intensely opens with spice as well, though it’s warmer here and doesn’t linger as long as in the original. Pink pepper really takes the spotlight, with cinnamon and sage rounding out the blend.

I notice the sweetness in Intensely shows up earlier. That toffee accord mixing with cinnamon and caramel really gives Intensely a more energetic personality.

Elixir Absolu opens differently yet familiarly compared to the original JPG Le Male Elixir. It drops the cooling mint note. Instead, you get plenty of lavender with some warmer spice and the new addition of sweet plum.

The plum actually isn’t too heavy at the start for me. It’s much less tart and sweeter than I expected it would be.

I’m not sure what the spice is here. It kind of smells like cumin mixed with a touch of cinnamon. The plum can carry a bit of spicy character too, but I’m personally getting cumin.

Lavender is the main focus with Le Male Elixir Absolu. What’s interesting is I get the sense of iris floating around in this mix. Haven’t seen anything from Gaultier mentioning this though.

Which is better? 

The opening for sure goes to the Stronger with You. While I like Absolu overall as a fragrance, the opening act is kind of messy and probably its worst part.

Edge: Intensely

Projection

This is a pretty close call. Both of these fragrances are quite powerful, have a large projection and a heavier dense feeling at times while wearing them.

I might give the edge to Elixir Absolu, as I think that it might have a slightly farther reach with how it projects. But, they’re about the same in my experience.

Edge: Push

Longevity

I get 11-12 hours with SWY Intensely. It’s a really great performer for a designer fragrance.

Does Absolu go beyond that? No, but it gets somewhat close, at least closer than many other colognes would. With the Gaultier, I get 9-10.5 hours of total wear from it. Still really good, just doesn’t hit the same level.

So, the Armani has the definite edge in longevity, with about equal projecting power.

Edge: Intensely

Versatility

Both of these fragrances are best worn autumn through early to mid-spring. Elixir Absolu isn’t as thick or cloying as the original Elixir can be, but it’s not exactly light either.

Within that, though, I think that SWY Intensely is the better option for date night or some other nightlife event versus Absolu. Neither is a formal sort of fragrance, but I think that the Armani can fit in better on a day to day basis.

Not a massive difference, but Intensely has the edge.

Edge: Intensely

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these two fragrance do I prefer?

Le Male Elixir Absolu has quickly become one of my favorites from JPG. The opening act is a bit rough, but the dry down is quite good and something that I have enjoyed wearing.

I started wearing it almost exclusively versus the original Le Male Elixir. It’s smooth, sweet, and the lavender with a touch of plum is great. The performance is also great.

However, in comparison to Stronger with You Intensely, I don’t the Absolu is as good. The Armani is more versatile, is more consistent, has a bit better performance, and I think smells slightly more appealing than the Gaultier cologne.

Intensely is the best from the SWY series, in my opinion, and is also going to be the better choice for most men here.

Winner: Stronger with You Intensely

Pacific Chill vs City of Stars

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City of Stars and Pacific Chill have ended up being two of the more popular Louis Vuitton fragrances since their releases a few years back or longer. That being the case, they can often be the final choices that people have to make a decision on, in terms of which they should buy.

I have reviewed and tested each of these perfumes and in this post, I will compare and contrast each, and share which one of them I prefer.

Tale of the tape: City of Stars vs Pacific Chill

City of Stars

Notes include: red mandarin, bergamot, lemon, lime, blood orange, musk, tiare flower, sandalwood

My full review: City of Stars

Pacific Chill

Notes include: blackcurrant, lemon, orange, ambrette, cedar, coriander, basil, carrot seeds, peppermint

Read my review: Pacific Chill by Louis Vuitton

Opening

Pacific Chill opens cold, sharp, and intensely fresh. Citrus leads the charge, but there’s also a strong greenish quality running through it.

Peppermint, coriander, and basil shake things up, making for a really distinctive first impression.

On my skin, peppermint takes control among those three, with the others playing more of a support role. This shifts as time goes on and the  basil starts pushing forward and eventually takes over from the mint.

Blackcurrant brings out the sweet and tart side that Chill projects and stays pretty strong for a decent stretch. But both the mint and blackcurrant eventually begin to fade

Pacific Chill transforms into something more citrus and basil-driven. On me, orange and citron come through clearly, joined by this apricot-like smell that develops.

The opening of City of Stars is obviously going to be citrus-heavy just from the listed notes. Lime really jumps out as the main focus. You can pick up some blood orange and bergamot too, but it mostly reads as a blended citrus mix for most of the wear.

The citrus here doesn’t completely take over like it does in Afternoon Swim, for example. Instead, the tiare accord and musk claim their own strong territory right from the start.

Louis Vuitton calls this a nighttime fragrance, but it honestly feels quite beachy. I guess night could work too. The citrus and tiare give it this tropical vibe that seems more sunny and daytime to me.

One thing you’ll notice during the wear is this ongoing balance between powdery and creamy qualities. The musk, tiare, and sandalwood keep trading off to create that effect.

Which do I prefer? I like what’s going on early with Pacific. It’s cool and fresh, which plays well off of the fruits.

But, I think Stars has the better opening between these two Louis Vuitton fragrances.

Edge: City of Stars

Projection

City of Stars has pretty moderate sillage. It does hang in the air and creates a nice scent trail behind you for about the first hour.

The projection probably peaks around seven feet. After that, it settles into a 3-4 foot range for most of the wear. It’s a personal bubble of fragrance for you to enjoy.

I think that Chill is slightly more substantial and has a further reach than does City of Stars. At least, initially. Pacific Chill is stronger out of the gate then it compatriot.

It doesn’t blow out City of Stars, but it has an advantage.

Edge: Pacific Chill

Longevity

With City of Stars I get in the 6-7.5 hour range. It’s capable of hitting that upper band, but doesn’t always do so. It’s pretty mid with how long it lasts.

Pacific Chill I also get around 7.5 hours, but it seems to be more consistent with that outcome versus City of Stars. I didn’t notice this LV fragrance quitting very much before that and it might be more capable of going into the 8-ish hour range.

Not a huge difference, neither is spectacular, but I think Chill takes this category.

Edge: Pacific Chill

Versatility

Seasonally, both of these are in spring and summer territory. Definitely warm weather fragrances, that aren’t overly serious.

Pacific Chill is unisex, but leans more feminine. It doesn’t go completely into that zone, but those fruity shampoo qualities certainly push it that direction.

It also feels much more youthful than the other LV summer fragrances. Not particularly mature.

This one’s more for daytime casual wear anyway. Not something you’d reach for during nightlife or even formal summer occasions. So even if it reads somewhat immature, it shouldn’t be much of an issue.

City of light is also unisex territory, leaning feminine. Tiare usually shows up in women’s perfumes, so, it does lean that way.

Again, I’m not sure why this gets marketed as nighttime wear. Maybe for warm summer evenings out, but this really reads as casual to semi-formal daytime territory.

It’s pretty and appealing. Not super seductive or attention-grabbing. More about clean powder and musky cream.

I might give a slight edge to Pacific Chill for its shampoo-like clean in the dry down. But, there’s not too much of a difference here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these two LV fragrances do I prefer?

I was excited to try Pacific Chill back when it came out. I was looking forward to the perfume based on the notes and came away somewhat underwhelmed. I like the fragrance well enough, but I am somewhat puzzled as to why it became so popular.

I guess I’m more in the minority who just thinks that its fine. The early stages are interesting, but it’s nothing special in the back half.

I’m going with City of Stars versus what I get with Pacific Chill. Since the performances are basically the same, it comes down to how each smells and City is just better to me.

The mix of the citrus and the tiare flower is fantastic. I really enjoyed wearing this one while I made my way through the sample.

That’s my pick. They’re extremely close in every other way, but the scent itself really separates them, in my opinion.

Now, if you don’t want something that has that creaminess or that more traditional beachy sort of aroma, you should probably go with Chill versus City of Stars.

Winner: City of Stars

8 Best Smelling Perry Ellis Colognes for Men

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Perry Ellis doesn’t usually come up when talking about the ‘best’ designer fragrances on the market. However, this is one of those houses that definitely plays a role within the industry. You will find that most Ellis colognes are available for under $30 and almost universally smell good.

This is a brand that presents so much value for the guy looking to smell fantastic without having to break the bank. In this post, I am going to present what I feel are the 8 best Perry Ellis colognes that have been released thus far.

Favorite Perry Ellis Fragrances for Men

Warm Spice for Winter

Perry Ellis M for Men, 3.4 fl oz Eau de Toilette– Sweet vanilla meets spice from cinnamon and anise to create a fragrance that is sneaky good.  Very warm and fresh, wintertime kind of cologne, that does a solid job at filling that niche.

M is a very nice inexpensive option, as it has a similar scent to Chanel Allure. Not exactly the same, but you do get a close vibe. Creamy vanilla/tonka bean, with spices, and dries down with a bit of a powdery finish.

Citrus and Wood

Perry Ellis Night By Perry Ellis for Men Eau-de-toillete Spray, 3.4 Ounce–A citrus/woody scent that delivers blood orange and lemon notes in a very pleasant presentation. It has a woody dry down that has mossy elements. Don’t really get the ‘night’ moniker, but it is a damn nice cologne.

I really like blood orange in fragrances, it doesn’t get used often enough. The citrus is the star, but, the woodsy base brings it all together with a fresh and somewhat spicy kick. Also, a bit of an amber in there, as well.

Not super complex or one that’s going to stand out with its boldness. But, it gives you a nice experience at a low price.

Reach for the Sky

Sky by Perry Ellis– If you can get this one for fairly cheap, it’s worth checking out as an easygoing daily wear.

Citrus and a light mint note kick things off up top. It’s clean, bright, and sitting on top of a further watery base thanks to the aquatic notes and a touch of violet leaf.

Style wise, this is a lot like other scents like Polo Blue or even Sauvage to some extent. But, Sky is more aquatic and less woody than the Dior in particular. Though, in the dry down there is a good bit of ambroxan.

I will say that it doesn’t smell exactly like any of them, just you know along the lines of what you’re getting here, if you’ve smelled those types of colognes before.

Crisp and watery with some lavender, but mostly that citrus aquatic vibe is what this one is all about.

Midnight Amber

Midnight by Perry Ellis– Not sure if this is a flanker of Night or the brand just continued the theme in their naming. Either way, Midnight is another great release from Perry Ellis, this time giving you an amber and citrus blend.

The opening is an orange note with the ever-present amber and some spiciness provided by cinnamon and rosemary. Beyond that, vanilla gives it a further delicious creaminess, particularly in the dry down when it pairs with the amber.

The thing is, Midnight is not a heavy cologne that will bog you down, it does have a great freshness to it. The citrus, spice, and geranium make sure of that.

Performance is okay. This one is available for cheap, so, don’t expect some complete beast or anything. For the price? I think Perry Ellis Midnight is well worth getting.

The Acqua Alternative

Perry Ellis 360 Red for Men, 3.4 fl oz EDT– Famously well-performing and great smelling fragrance that is available at a low price. Has a familiar blend of citrus with a bit of a spicy kick. Solid cologne all around.

360 Red by Perry Ellis gets compared often with Acqua di Gio. While they do share quite a similar structure, this one has much more of a citrus based aroma, with its lemon and lime start. Later, clove and cinnamon provide its spicy and more masculine edge.

Fresh and inexpensive, with guys swearing by this cologne for years.  360 Red Review

Fresh, Clean, Sporty

Perry Ellis Reserve By Perry Ellis For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.4 Ounces– A softer, clean scent that has a hint of sweetness and almost soapy quality to it. A nice casual everyday wear, that won’t overpower, but has a intriguing aroma.

Reserve is a fresh blend with fruits, florals, woods, and musk all mixed together. A 90s throwback with a nice dose of lavender and juniper berries, after that citrus punch in the opening. Good energy and one that can be worn daily or in more casual situations.

The Other 360

Perry Ellis 360 White for Men, 3.4 fl oz Eau de Toilette Spray-The other 360 flanker fragrance on the list, 360 White,  has that Le Male vibe but seems much softer and different enough to stand on its own. Light with floral sweetness and a minty body.

The main difference is going to be the citrus notes up top and the powdery quality is a bit ramped up. Not too heavy and quite versatile for an inexpensive cologne.

It is harder to find a bottle nowadays, as I think that it’s been discontinued. 360 White is still around, so, I’ll keep it on the list but you’ll probably have to search a bit to find it at a good price.

A Bit Like Bleu

Perry Ellis Pour Homme, 3.4 fl oz EDT– Perry Ellis Pour Homme is a clean citrus and spicy fragrance for men, that does a close impression to Bleu de Chanel. At least, for something at this price point.

Beyond that, you get cardamom warmth, lavender, and a lighter woody base and musky dry down. It’s not a terrible performer and will get you plenty of use, just don’t expect a marathon runner. Quite a good cheapie alternative to Bleu, that gives you a nice orange note in lieu of the Chanel citruses.