Men’s Fashion

Gucci Guilty vs. Guilty Essence (Black) Cologne Comparison

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I’ve been going through and updating a lot of older posts for the past week or so, on this site. So, I thought it was time that I post something new, and why not start with a head to head cologne comparison?

In today’s match up, we have two entries from Gucci: Guilty Pour Homme vs. Guilty Black (edit: renamed to Essence). Which one of these fragrances from the Guilty line, smells the best? Which has better performance? Which is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Gucci Guilty vs. Black

Gucci Guilty

Notes include: lemon, orange blossom, lavender, patchouli, cedar, pink pepper, neroli

Click here to try: Guilty By Gucci EDT spray for Men, 3 Ounce

Read my original review: Gucci Guilty

Guilty Essence (Black)

Guilty Black Notes: green coriander, lavender, orange flower, neroli, patchouli, and cedar wood

Click here to try: Gucci Guilty Black Pour Homme Fragrance Collection 3.0-oz. Eau de Toilette

Read my full review: Guilty Black

Opening

Gucci Guilty starts off with lemon, pink pepper, and lavender. It’s light with a slight spice, plenty of warmth, and a smooth freshness. This is bolstered by the inclusion of a solid outdoorsy base provided by cedar wood and patchouli. Quite citrusy and clean.

The lemon is joined by the lavender and orange flower up top. But, the citrus has the edge over the floral notes in the composition.

Guilty Black, meanwhile, opens up without the same lemony-citrus aroma that the original has. Guilty Black is really well blended and it can be hard to pick out notes.

However, what I do mostly notice is coriander, lavender, and orange flower. It’s got a green masculine freshness with plenty of spicy/woody energy coursing through the heart of the fragrance.

Which do I like better? I actually like Guilty Black’s opening more than the original. Yes, I enjoy the lemon, lavender, and pink pepper aroma, in that one. Though, I don’t think it is as interesting or appealing as Black.

They do share an overlap, of course. Guilty Black just goes a little bit deeper with it and the coriander smells better in the composition.

Edge: Black

Projection

For the first few hours after application, Gucci Guilty has a fairly moderate sillage. Thereafter, it becomes more of a light and airy cologne. Not a beast at all. In fact, it’s kind of disappointing how much it lack that steady power.

Guilty Black doesn’t have huge sillage either, but it is stronger and more consistent during the wear. I always experienced very solid projection with Guilty Black.

Nonetheless, don’t expect to leave behind a huge scent trail, with either of these fragrances. Though, I do notice that one is slightly superior to the other.

Edge: Black

Longevity

Guilty only lasts 5-6 hours on my skin. With Guilty Black, I could get over 10 hours of good wear from it, on my skin.

Those were the older bottles, from around the time of its release, and I don’t know if it was reformulated. But, from my experience with each, Guilty Black lasts way longer.

The original Guilty just never had great performance for me. It would be noticeable for a while and then gone within that six hour span.

Even, if Essence has undergone a reformulation, it’s probably still at the very least on equal footing…but probably better.

Update: Trying Essence again, it’s in the 7-9 hour range. Maybe a slight step back, but still better.

Edge: Black

Versatility

These scents pretty much cover the same territory, as to when they can and should be worn. Both are pretty much year round wears, that can go casual or more dressed up. Both are quite attractive colognes.

They are going to be mostly worn by men in their 20s through early 30s. No real edge here. There’s too much overlap.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

I have always found the original Gucci Guilty to be a nice fragrance, but one that is pretty simple, and never wowed me. The main trio of lavender, lemon, and pink pepper are pleasant to smell, and I like the undertones of woody and floral notes.

It’s not a terrible scent, just doesn’t strike me as amazing. I think that the concept was a solid one to build off of and there have been some better flankers, like Black.

Guilty Black, on the other hand, was always super enjoyable for me to wear from the start. To me, it’s not even a contest between these two colognes, and the real tough decision would be between Guilty Black and Guilty Intense. I’m pretty sure I’d go with Intense, in most cases.

But, since that has been discontinued as of this update, Black is a great choice.

Gucci Guilty Black is great to wear and has a certain sexiness to it. It outperforms the original and really just is a better scent all around. This is one of those cases in which the flanker fragrance outdoes the first of the series.

Winner: Gucci Guilty Black

Bleu de Chanel EDP vs. Creed Aventus

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Bleu de Chanel and Aventus are two names in the men’s fragrance space, that command respect, and are best sellers. Often times, they can be the last two scents that men are considering to purchase. The question is, which is better? Which lasts longer?

Obviously, there are multiple editions of the Chanel scent, so in this post, I will use Bleu EDP. Why? To me, it is the best of the bunch, and a worthy competitor to Creed Aventus. As usual, I will break down each by category, before declaring an ultimate winner.

Tale of the Tape: Bleu EDP vs. Aventus

Creed Aventus

Top: Blackcurrant, Italian bergamot, French apples and pineapple

Middle: Rose, dry birch, Moroccan jasmine, and patchouli

Base Notes: musk, oak moss, ambergris, and vanilla.

Click here to try Aventus: Creed Aventus Creed 4 OZ Millesime Spray For Men

My original Review: Creed Aventus

Bleu de Chanel EDP

Notes include: grapefruit, sandalwood, amber, vanilla, tonka bean, ginger, mint, and more

Click here to try: Bleu De Chaneⅼ Eau De Parfum Pour Homme Spray 1.7 Fl. OZ. / 50ML.

Read my Review: Bleu de Chanel EDP

Opening

Bleu de Chanel EDP opens with a stronger grapefruit blend that includes lemon. These citrus notes are joined by the fresh spice of pink pepper, mint, and ginger.

This adds an interesting dynamic to the fruity start. A bit later, you get warmth and smokiness from incense and amber. It’s very nice, changing, and with enough depth to make it more than just another citrus fragrance.

Meanwhile, Creed Aventus begins with a sharper mix of bergamot, black currant and pineapple. This is met with the dry smokiness of birch wood. It’s pretty intense and has the effect of a cleaner.

The dry down is better, when you get the jasmine, vanilla, and other woodsy touches coming to the forefront.

Which is better? To me, the better opening is no doubt from the Chanel fragrance. I’ve never been a fan of the way Aventus starts, but it does get better.

However, in the early stages, I love the bright citrus smell of Bleu EDP, the ginger and mint, with the eventual depth that the amber provides.

Edge: Bleu 

Projection

Both of these fragrances, start out with a strong sillage, but never hitting that elite status. They can both be over-sprayed, but on outside of that, they won’t choke out a room.

Though, Aventus holds its strength for longer than does Bleu. Bleu de Chanel isn’t weak, but the ability to project turns fairly moderate, after that initial burst. That sillage trail isn’t going to be that noticeable outside of the first hour.

Meanwhile, Aventus can indeed linger and project from the skin for a longer time.

Edge: Aventus

Longevity

Bleu EDP lasts for right around 8 hours, consistently, on my skin. Aventus will go for 8-9 hours. Usually, they hit about the same, but the Creed does have a slight advantage on some occasions. The Parfum version of BdC is better, in this regard.

Aventus can go for 10 hours, depending on the batch. In my experience with it, very much in line with that 8-9 hour timeline, though.

Edge: Aventus

Versatility 

Both of these colognes are good year round, but aren’t great in the heat. The heat and humidity messes with the performance and overall scent of each. Outside of that, they are awesome.

Also, each is adept at being presentable both at the office, as well as nightlife. They are each attractive enough for date nights or other occasions. There isn’t much separation here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Either, Bleu de Chanel EDP or Creed Aventus, is a worthwhile fragrance. I will gladly wear both, depending on my mood. Which is better? There isn’t much of an edge, but I’ll try to break it down here.

First, Aventus, gets much better during the dry down versus the start. It’s citrus/woody/smoky/smooth. This fragrance really does have a depth and development, that you don’t find in many scents.

It’s a perfect mix between dry and fresh, citrus and woods. The performance is really good and the whole experience is a pleasure. I really enjoy when I get those vanilla moments wafting up from the base.

However, I think that Bleu de Chanel EDP, is the better fragrance. I enjoy the opening more, but also the entire wear. You get the great citrus freshness of the original EDT version, with a warmth, smoothness, and spice that give the cologne such a personality.

Aside from that, the price point, is significantly less than Aventus. I have no desire to pay that much for a fragrance, when I can get something better, for cheaper (though, it is also pricy). Although, you could get something else that smells like Creed Aventus or an attempted ‘dupe’ of Bleu de Chanel, for that matter.

If pressed, I will choose to wear Bleu, a majority of the time. I do think that both, are quite exquisite scents, but I’ll pick the Chanel.

Winner: Bleu

212 VIP Black by Carolina Herrera

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I am a fan of the original 212 VIP from Carolina Herrera. In fact, I still have a full bottle of the stuff, that I break out on certain evenings when I want to project an air of boldness. It’s certainly not a cologne for everybody, but it is a club star.

So, when I had the chance to try out 212 VIP Black, I was really looking forward to it and wanted to see how they reinterpreted that boozy monster of a fragrance I so enjoy. How does VIP Black perform? What’s in it? What does it smell like? Is it worth a try?

What does 212 VIP Black Smell Like?

Notes include: absinthe, leather, lavender, musk, vanilla, amber, anise

Click here to try: Carolina Herrera 212 VIP Black Men Eau de Parfum 3.4oz / 100ml – Launched in 2017

My Full Wear Review

The opening of 212 VIP Black, like the original VIP, is a boozy sort of scent. Now, the original had some strong vodka, while Black opts for absinthe.

I’ve never actually drank absinthe, so the aroma is pretty new to me, but it still has a familiar alcohol scent to it. The absinthe is joined by a warm amber and a spicy anise, while still being flanked by sweet and smooth notes.

The opening does have a deeper and more intricate sort of aroma than the latter stages, which turns much more into a vanilla dominant mix.

The fresh greenish/herbal type of spice, with the other notes coming in and taking away some of the roughness.

Black is energetic yet smooth with an early emergence of lavender and just a hint of leather. Honestly, the leather really isn’t strong at all, and pretty faint.

Not only that, the vanilla lends a sweet creaminess which contrasts nicely off of the booze and pretty prominent amber. It does have a resemblance to the Pure XS fragrances by Paco Rabanne. Not entirely, but the whole structure is similar.

After the initial boozy wave, turns into a sweet sort of musky scent. Vanilla, amber, musk are the most noticeable to my nose.

It is a pretty soft fragrance with spice and some remnant booze that soaks through. Candy-like in a lot of ways, I guess sugary, and upbeat definitely a party sort of cologne.

I like a good vanilla and amber combination. Not the most exciting blend on the planet, but it’s nice with the musk. The lavender does hang around to give it that extra cleanliness and distinction, but it doesn’t show up as all that powerful for me.

Sillage, Longevity, and When to Wear

Projection wise, I found VIP Black to be light to moderate. The sillage isn’t huge at all and not anything like 212 VIP, in that regard.

This is a toned down kind of cologne versus the original and also doesn’t smell anything like it. A bit odd for a flanker. Anyway, I wouldn’t expect a complete club beast, but I don’t think it’s completely weak or anything.

The longevity was okay, but again, nothing monstrous. Actually, this was my biggest disappointment with this cologne.

Maybe 5-6 hours on my skin, with plenty of that time spent as a skin scent or with the sillage limited to a few feet. It’s crazy how much this doesn’t come close to the same level as its namesake.

Seasonally, I’d put this in the autumn/winter category. It’s probably too sweet and warm for the more humid months of the year, but since it’s a nighttime scent, you might be able to get away with it once the sun goes down.

VIP Black, like the original, is a clubbing type of scent. Again, just not a sillage monster. It is masculine, has some sex appeal, and will catch attention when someone is close to you.

VIP Black leans much more to being worn by a guy in his early to mid 20s. Not one for the office or more formal occasions. Casual, nightlife, and when the temperature drops. These are most of your options.

Overall Impressions 

Overall, do I like 212 VIP Black? It’s okay. I don’t find it to be all that special and I prefer 212 VIP over this Black edition. It’s really not all that intense and the longevity is okay but not beastly. I like the idea of the scent, but the execution wasn’t very inspiring.

Would I wear it? Sure. Would I buy it? Maybe once it hits the discount outlets. It’s a nice mix of spicy and sweet with a boozy top. This one seems to have developed somewhat of a fan base, like the original has done. To me, it’s decent and not much beyond that.

The absinthe is fairly interesting with the anise and other notes. I like the opening act, but it ends pretty boring. I like the scent. VIP Black wouldn’t be a bad buy for most guys at all. It’s solid, but I’m not even sure that I prefer it to the Paco Rabanne fragrances either.

If it sounds interesting to you, if you find it cheap…go for it. Full price? Probably not.

Tommy Bahama St. Barts Cologne

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Tommy Bahama is a fashion and fragrance line that’s all about the beach and sailing type of lifestyle. It’s casual and laid back in its presentation, plus it has released some pretty great fragrances, at a price that is wholly affordable. In this post, I want to take a closer look at Set Sail St. Barts and determine if this cologne is worthy of a buy or not.

I have updated this page since my initial 2015 review, after spending much more time with this fragrance, and having some additional thoughts.

What does Set Sail St. Barts Smell Like?

FullSizeRender (48)

Notes include: blue agavae, salty sea spray, musk, guava, lime, tequila, vanilla, palm wood

Click here to try: Tommy Bahama St. Barts Men Cologne,3.4 Fl Oz

My Full Wear Review

I was really interested in trying out this fragrance because of the compilation of notes reminded me somewhat of Guerlain Homme, which I absolutely love wearing. Guerlain has a mojito accord which gives it that summery alcoholic drink vibe and the lime plus tequila notes in this Set Sail cologne struck me as a slightly different variation on that theme.

Plus, the bright blue bottle with the gold metallic cap and nautical rope tied around, it looked really awesome.

Initially, one is struck by the lime note, as it is very potent at first and it is joined by a creamy almost coconut aroma that is less pronounced. The whole opening is very reminiscent of a margarita and the sensation of being on an island in the tropics.

The tart lime note is huge, at first, and is paired with a salty marine note, and some guava for extra fruitiness. Everything is so citrusy and juicy at the start and I kind of don’t want it to ever end.

The lime note settles down quite a bit after about 20 minutes or so and what is left behind is a fresh and delightful scent. I really detect the palm wood and sea salt spray during this second act.

It’s like the opening is enjoying the margarita on the beach and then getting in the water yourself. Set Sail St. Barts really is one of those mood setting colognes, that will take your mind to the tropics, upon smelling this fragrance.

Also during the dry down, there is a heavy vein of that tequila/blue agave aroma, it becomes less of a tropical cocktail and more towards a clean shot glass of tequila.

There is a very light vanilla/musk combination, that when blended with the lime and guava, smells somewhat lotion-y with a suntan lotion like creaminess.

Ultimately, what you get is a marine soaked lime with saltiness and tequila. Underneath that is bouts of woodiness and creaminess. Very summery and bringing up memories of the island life.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Now, while that lime notes is pretty potent at the start, it really isn’t an overwhelming cologne at all. I would say it is light to moderate and you might even want to test spray yourself a few times and see how it reacts.

Maybe then, deciding to apply another spray. I tend to over spray St. Barts, not only to give it a boost, but also because I got a large bottle for so cheap. There’s really no reason for me to skimp on the application.

Longevity is also pretty moderate, but certainly not terrible at all. With heavy sprays I can get 6-7 hours, on my skin. If I go a few sprays, 4-5.

As far as when to wear, this is a casual scent all the way. Summertime or other warm weather. Ideally, outdoors and by the sea. I’d wear it to the gym sometimes, but mostly just on summer days when I was out and about.

Not really one for formal occasions or even much for wear during the remainder of the year. Unless, of course, you live in the tropics.

Overall Impressions of St. Barts

Is this cologne a buy? It’s a summertime fragrance and will appeal to those who really like that summery/beach/island vibe. Look at the notes and if you’re not too crazy about the laid back margarita sort of scent, then this might be a pass for you.

I really do like the lime note here. Yes, it is loud and bold, but that’s a part of the appeal. The tequila note is interesting and is one of the reasons it gets noted as a ‘poor man’s version’ of Creed’s Virgin Island Water, which uses rum instead.

I’ve never personally been to big on that one, but it is an alternative, that many people love.

However, for those who are into this sort of beach island cologne, I would definitely recommend checking this out as a casual summer fragrance.

It’s a fairly inexpensive and versatile choice for the hottest months of the year and really helps set the tropical tone.

As far as the Tommy Bahama scents go, this is probably my second favorite. St. Kitts is still the best of the bunch, if you want to go with a more tropical fruit cologne, without the tequila.

Update: In 2022, it is harder to find a cheap bottle of this stuff, but Tommy Bahama still sells it at full price. A few years ago, you could get it for $20-30. I wouldn’t pay full price for it, but with a discount, it’s worth a shot.

Versace Man Eau Fraiche vs. D&G Light Blue

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For this entry into the head to head men’s cologne match ups, I am going to be comparing two of the most popular fragrances on the market, D&G Light Blue vs. Versace Man Eau Fraiche. These two citrus based scents have become staples in the rotation of many guys around the world, but which one actually smells the best? Which lasts longer? Which is ultimately the better buy?

Tale of the Tape: Light Blue vs. Eau Fraiche

Light Blue

Notes include: bergamot, grapefruit, mandarin orange, pepper, oak moss, juniper, musk, rosemary, rosewood, incense

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 6.7 Ounce

My review: Light Blue

Versace Man Eau Fraiche

Notes include: Lemon, Rosewood, Carambola, Cedar leaves, Tarragon, Sage, Musk, Amber, Sycamore

Click here to try: Versace Man Eau Fraiche By Gianni Versace For Men Edt Spray 3.4 Oz

Read my review: Man Eau Fraiche

Opening

Light Blue starts off with a blend of citrus notes from bergamot to grapefruit to mandarin orange. These notes are then joined black pepper and rosemary. It is bright and spicy. A clean and fresh blend.

After about 10 minutes of wear with Light Blue, I do get the incense note coming through more, a touch of smokiness.

Eau Fraiche kicks things off with lemon and bergamot, but adds starfruit, which gives it a very nice and distinct juicy aroma.

It’s a very refreshing and juicy citrus smell without the same level of spiciness of Light Blue. It has some herbal elements, but not the pepper, found in the competitor.

As it moves along, the cardamom and tarragon will become more apparent, before moving into a woodier phase.

Which is better? I really like the great lemon citrus of Versace Man Eau Fraiche, when combined with the starfruit, the opening is super clean and pleasant. I prefer it to the spiciness found in the D&G.

Light Blue has more going on up front, but the Versace just has a better presentation in that opening act.

Edge: Eau Fraiche

Projection

Neither one of these scents have giant silage. They aren’t going to fill up a room and are pretty moderate.

That being said, while they start off pretty much the same, Light Blue is more consistent for longer. Fraiche has a lighter sillage, hours into the wear, versus Light Blue.

Fraiche is just not as heavy of a fragrance, even if Light Blue isn’t all that heavy either.

Edge: Light Blue

Longevity

Light Blue always gets me in the 6-8 hour range of wear, and as I said, it is consistent during that time. It’s really one of its best strengths. That performance is like clockwork.

Eau Fraiche is a 6-7 hour wear, but not more than that, and the sillage is lighter towards the end of the 3-4 hour mark.

Eau Fraiche isn’t a powerhouse or a crazy performer. Either way you measure it, I’ve always gotten better performance out of Light Blue. Not an insane gap between them, though.

Edge: Light Blue

Versatility

These are two very versatile fragrances, as they can hold up well in the heat, are pleasant, and can go casual  or to the office.

They’re both best sellers because they are non-offensive and are great starter fragrances. Neither is a club beast and are more ‘nice smelling’ than sexy. No real separation here.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

This can be a tough match up to decide on, as these have a similar profile, and are pretty simple colognes. Light Blue is very good. You can’t really go wrong with buying this fragrance, as it is well liked, and brings a good performance for a citrus based scent.

I like the citrus and spice mix, with the herbal and woody notes in the dry down. It’s fairly linear, but gets the job done.

Versace Man Eau Fraiche has a very enjoyable opening act. The dry down is more full of rosewood and amber, but the citrus hangs around throughout. There is plenty of overlap between these two, but Eau Fraiche feels like a woodier aroma to me.

Personally, I enjoy the overall smell of Eau Fraiche versus Light Blue. Yes, it is also very linear, but I feel that it hits a higher peak than does the D&G.

Light Blue has a bit better performance, but I think Eau Fraiche smells better. I’m going to give the latter, the nod in this match up, but it is really close.

I actually like Light Blue Eau Intense more than either, but between these two, I’d go Versace.

Winner: Eau Fraiche