By Designer

Terre d’Hermes vs Creed Aventus Cologne Comparison

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In this installment of my ongoing series of men’s fragrance comparisons, I want to tackle two relatively popular scents, Creed Aventus and Terre D’Hermes. I am going to break down each, see how they perform, and ultimately which I think is the better buy. Of course, fragrance is ultimately a subjective experience, so while I will share mine this may not hold true for someone else.

 

 

Creed Aventus Tale of the Tape

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Notes of 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 read my original Aventus Review

 

Terre D’Hermes Tale of the Tape

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Notes include: mineral note, Grapefruit, bay rose, pepper, geranium, Atlas cedar, benzoin, patchouli, vetiver, orange.

Click here for my original review

 

Opening

Gahhhhhh, this one is difficult. I’m not a fan of either fragrances opening. To me, Aventus is too harsh at the start, like lemon Pine Sol. On the other hand, Terre D’Hermes is rather earthy, with a strong orange note that is quite bitter. Which opening impression is better? Neither.

Edge: Push

 

Projection

Both of these colognes have really good projection. But I have to give the slight edge to the Creed scent. Though, Terre D’Hermes is by no means ‘weak’.

Edge: Aventus

 

Longevity

Much like the projection, these two scents are really neck and neck. I get 7-10 hours from each cologne with no let down at all.

Edge: Push

 

Versatility

I do think that Creed Aventus is best worn during the spring and summer months due to its citrus content. Terre D’Hermes, while it contains an orange note, is more earthy/smoky/woodsy in its presentation and would be best served as a autumn/winter type of fragrance. However, Aventus wouldn’t be entirely out of place in the cooler months of the year, while the Hermes cologne just wouldn’t hold up as a summertime scent.

Edge: Aventus

 

Overall Scent

While I’m not a fan of either one of these fragrances openings, I am a fan of Aventus overall while I’m none to hot on Terre D’Hermes. I absolutely hate the orange note in the Hermes scent, it’s bitter and struck me as sort of rotten. I know many people enjoy it but orange is just one of those notes that bother me when it’s prominent. I think it’s presented well in a inexpensive scent like Nautica Voyage but in Terre D’Hermes, it just bothers me. The dry down of the Hermes is much better than the opening but it just isn’t something that I am impressed with…just my opinion.

So, I think that Aventus is the better smelling cologne. However, if you want something with more of a mature spice, Terre D’Hermes might be worth a look. Also, price is a factor here too, Creed scents aren’t cheap.

Winner: Aventus

Best Tonka Bean Scented Colognes for Men

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Tonka bean is a note which is commonly used within men’s fragrances and helps to give the scent a sweet and smooth profile. In this post, I want to explore some cologne options for guys which feature a prominent use of tonka bean. As always, I have linked each scent out to Amazon for further information and ease of purchase.

 

 

L’homme Yves Saint Laurent By Yves Saint Laurent For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 3.3-Ounces
Ginger is the big star of the Yves Saint Laurent fragrance. However, the tonka bean in the heart of the fragrance provides a smooth sweetness and helps to make this one special. L’Homme Review

l'homme

 

Angel By Thierry Mugler For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray Rubber Bottle 3.4 OZ
A bold and quite powerful gourmand fragrance from Thierry Mugler.

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Armani Code By Giorgio Armani For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 4.2 Oz.
A masculine blend of citrus, leather, tobacco, and tonka bean. The latter three notes create an aroma that is so alluring and smooth with a slight kick. Armani Code Review

armani_code

 

Prada Luna Rossa SPORT Eau de Toilette Spray 3.4 oz
Man, this fragrance smells so awesome. It’s another use of vanilla and tonka bean which performs very well and isn’t too heavy. My Luna Rossa Sport Review

 

BURBERRY Brit for Men Eau de Toilette, 1.0 fl. oz
Smooth, powdery, and somewhat spicy. Brit is one of my favorite casual colognes during certain times of the year. It seems Burberry is just amazing at creating Fall and Winter scents. My Full Burberry Brit Review

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Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce
Tonka bean is one of the multitude of notes which makes Versace Eros tick. It is extremely rich, complex, warm, and powerful. Eros Full Review

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Givenchy Play Intense by Givenchy for Men – 3.3 Ounce EDT Spray
A fresh gourmand scent whose two main players are the coffee and tonka bean notes. Warm and slightly spicy and best for a cold winter’s day.

Axe Peace Shower Gel Fragrance Review

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It’s been a while since I have done a fragrance review on the site, so I thought that I’d do another overview from the Axe line of shower gels. In today’s post, I’d like to take a closer look at Axe’s scent, Peace for men.

 

 

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Notes include: musk, woods, fruit zest

Axe Peace Body Spray for Men, 4 Oz (3 Pack)

 

Axe Peace is a pretty interesting scent, at least as far as body washes are concerned. It has a bit of an aquatic, almost summertime feel to it, which I would venture a guess that the ‘fruit zest’ notes provide. I can’t quite detect what fruit note it is but it seems like a subtle citrus, nothing too sweet or overpowering but very clean.

The longevity of this scent actually seems better than the other scent in the Axe line. The body wash can still be detected on my skin hours later and it actually does a good job of projecting for a solid time period as well. I imagine the body spray probably would be a pretty long lasting scent as well.

How would I rank Peace versus the other Axe fragrances? I would put this one near the top. It would totally depend what you’re in the mood for but if you want something that is fresh, not too sweet, and masculine this one would do the trick. The clean citrus notes are joined by the warmth/spiciness of the musk note as well as a woody heart that gives it that air of masculinity. This is definitely a pleasant smelling scent and for what it is, worth a try.

Axe Excite Shower Gel Fragrance Review

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I have been reviewing many different fragrances here on the site over the past few months. Among them, is the Axe line of shower gels that have become so popular in the last 15 years or so. Now, I haven’t worn the body spray since high school but since I can usually get a good price on the shower gel, I like to use it to clean myself up. In this post, I want to take a closer look at Excite, which is a newer edition to this brand and see where it ranks among the other Axe options.

 

 

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Notes include: caramel, hazelnut, coconut

 

Axe Excite is described as a woodsy based scent but to me it’s more of a sweet gourmand in a lot of ways. While there does seem to be woods influences with the hazelnut note and perhaps some other notes that I’m not aware of, I really do get a sweet and rich lather from this bottle of Axe. The hazelnut note is also found in Very Irresistible by Givenchy, however, that is more of a coffee/mocha type of scent. Excite is more of  a cocoa butter type of scent with an extra candy-like sweetness to it provided by the coconut to go along with a woodsy base.

Like the other Axe scents, it’s a very linear experience. Meaning, the scent really doesn’t have a dry down period where it transforms, like colognes would. The longevity and projection of the shower gel are both average. The Axe body sprays do tend to last most of the day and can be quite potent, so they shouldn’t be used to the extreme in terms of amount.

How would I rank Axe Excite compared to other scents from this line? Out of the one’s I have reviewed on the site, I’d put it behind Anarchy in the second spot. However, there are other Axe scents that I haven’t reviewed yet, that I think are better also (Gold/Dark Temptation, Kilo, and some others I don’t think are made any longer). Overall, though, I do like Axe Excite a lot as a shower gel. It is stimulating and quite alluring in it’s presentation. It’s a very creamy and rich sort of smell, that is quite pleasing for the price.


 

 

Adidas Moves 001 Cologne Review

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I used to wear the original Adidas Moves back in high school and reviewed that fragrance on here yesterday. However, Adidas usually would sell a 3 fragrance gift set of Moves, 001, and Deep Energy. These fragrances are always available for dirt cheap and present some feasible options for younger guys who don’t have the budget. For this post, I want to take a look at the third cologne in these sets, Moves 001.

 

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Notes include: amber, sandalwood, mandarin orange, pear leaf, coriander, musk, patchouli

Click here to try Moves 001! 

 

I wrote in my review of the original Moves, that is basically a cologne suited best for high school aged guys. I would say that 001, is a more mature fragrance than that but it is still youthful in its presentation. This cologne is much more earthy/woodsy/spicy than the watery aquatic that is Adidas Moves. It does still have sweet fruity highlights of pear leaf and mandarin, however, it isn’t dominated by citrus or fruity scent.

001 is a smooth cologne, it isn’t spicy in the same way as something like Opium, but it is mostly imbued with musk and patchouli which give it that older vibe. Much like the other Adidas colognes, 001 is a bit synthetic in the way it smells, not overly so but it doesn’t have nearly the same complexity or quality as some more pricey designer fragrances.

When I used to wear this back in the day, I would usually get 4-6 hours out of it. It’s not a long-lasting fragrance and so that takes aways some of its usefulness. It also starts out as a moderate projecting cologne but it quickly fades and most of its longevity is when someone is very close to you.

Overall, it isn’t a bad scent. It smells fine but it isn’t anything special.001 is probably my least favorite of the three Adidas colognes that I used to wear. It’s something that can be worn casually but don’t expect miracles, though, it isn’t offensive so it is a safe fragrance to wear around wherever. Is it a buy? I think there are much better options, even at this price point, but if you want a bottle, go for it.