Uomo Born in Roma Intense by Valentino

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Uomo Born in Roma Intense is the 2023 flanker to the ongoing fragrance series by Valentino. I haven’t been a particularly big fan of Born in Roma entries thus far, especially the original release. As such, I wasn’t all that excited to try this Intense version out. How does it actually smell, though? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Uomo Born in Roma Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, amber, lavender, vetiver

Click here to try: Born in Roma Intense

My Full Review

Here’s how Valentino describes it: A fougere ambery fragrance combining the intensity of lavandin with an addictive vanilla.

Intense opens up with a fresh sweetness about it. The original was sweeter to me and had more of an Invictus style, but there is similarities here. One major difference is the lavender note that is present throughout.

It sort of tempers things from venturing too far into the candy-like sweetness realm. Though, it still flirts with it. I also appreciate the lack of mineral oil/saltiness in this Intense version. That gave me a headache while testing the original.

Intense becomes more of a lavender and vanilla combination after about 20 minutes or so. Very balanced and almost unisex with how it comes across. Could be a unisex version of the YSL Libre line.

They don’t seem to go into much detail regarding all of the notes. But, I think this has some of the same sage note, as the original and Coral Fantasy. Not to the same extent, however. Possibly some tonka bean? This fragrance totally has Luna Rossa Sport vibes.

The final dry down is like a lavender and vetiver blend on my skin. The vanilla and amber are in support, but this is much less sweet, and more of a floral/fougere aromatic for the rest of the way. Clean and easy to wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage opens up even stronger than Born in Roma. With that, I got 5-8 feet of projection off of where I sprayed. This seems to hit an extra foot or two for that first hour. Not massively more powerful, but it does take things to a slight higher level.

After that, it settles into the same sort of moderate performance. That being said, I still could detect it for a good long while without having to press my nose in closer.

It sticks around for 8.5-9 hours, on my skin. Very nice for a mainstream designer cologne like this. That should be a boost for its popularity.

Seasonally, this is going to be an autumn through springtime wear. It’s fresh, but just a little too heavy/thick for the summer months. In cold or moderate temperatures, Born in Roma Intense comes off well.

The versatility is one of its main strengths, if not the biggest selling point. Day or nighttime wear. You can wear it casually or more dressed up. It has mass appeal and an attractiveness that can work on dates.

For the non-enthusiast or collector of fragrances, you won’t need much more than something like this in your rotation.

Overall Impressions of Born in Roma Intense

Overall, do I like Intense? I do. It’s my favorite of the Born in Roma line thus far. It’s still nothing groundbreaking or anything, but Intense delivers a good experience overall.

I like that initial sweetness, in its more tolerable form versus the other entries in the series. That blended with a strong lavender, vanilla, and the amber coming from the base is nice. Not sickly and has a great freshness.

The back half of the wear is kind of boring to me. Doesn’t smell bad, but Intense gets pretty linear and the development is basically non-existent.

This isn’t too original. Similarities with the other Born in Roma’s, Luna Rossa Sport, and some of the Most Wanted by Azzaro fragrances. Not exactly like any of them, but takes cues from them all.

While it doesn’t hit the ‘great’ level for me, it does everything well enough that I think this one is pretty safe to grab a full bottle of for most guys. Unless you’re not a big fan of lavender, this probably won’t ever be a complete waste.

Personally, it’s too borderline for me to want a full bottle, but I’m glad that Valentino finally put out a good Born in Roma for men.

Light Blue Eau Intense Pour Homme by D&G

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I just posted my write up of the original Light Blue Pour Homme, and of course, I had to grab a decant of Light Blue Eau Intense to try out as well. This one was released back in 2017, after years of the original being a best seller and a staple of warm weather wear. How does this one stack up? Does is actually deliver intensity? Does it still smell good? Is it worth a purchase?

What Does Light Blue Eau Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, frozen grapefruit, juniper, aquatic accord, amber woods, musk

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Intense Eau de Parfum Spray for Men, 1.6 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Eau Intense starts off quite similar to the original, in many ways, but also as a standalone fragrance. The grapefruit and mandarin are still there, this time without the bergamot note, but the grapefruit is in a ‘frozen’ state.

It is chilled, bright, and sharp. Also, while the original had a peppery note, it is absent here and in the opening I pick up more of the juniper note instead.

One big difference, is the aquatic accord that is present in Eau Intense. It is slightly salty, but much less like an oceanic note, and more of like sitting by a pool with a slight chlorination.

Not to say that it smells strongly like pool water, but there is a familiar hint of that on a summer’s day. This version is chilled and refreshing and I really enjoy that aspect of the cologne.

Update: Coming back to this one, I now recognize the aquatic note to be the same one found in Living Stromboli. That one goes spicy and dry to pair with the aquatic accord, which ultimately isn’t as good as Eau Intense.

I think that it’s the way the juniper berries super fresh aroma, is interacting with the aquatic accord. It becomes heightened, and when paired with the citrus notes, creates a clean and refreshing scent.

Update: New batches seem to be the same. No degraded quality. This part of the wear smells really balanced between that grapefruit, juniper, and the aquatic notes. 

There is a feeling of slight spiciness, but not the same sharp pepper, as found in Light Blue Pour Homme. More of a blend of juniper and the emerging musk, stemming from the base of the composition.

As it dries down, more amberwood and musk, come out more and solidify the base of Eau Intense. However, the grapefruit, juniper, and aquatic notes dominate the composition throughout.

It’s a fairly linear and simplistic scent, which is to be expected for a summery aquatic such as this. Nonetheless, the citrus does tamper down a bit towards the end, and the marine notes are able to smell much more oceanic.

To me, the strength of the juniper and the woody notes really help to separate this version from the original. Everything is geared toward being super fresh, intense, while still being usable for when it gets hot.

Yes, the aquatic accord creates distinction, but the juniper really stands out to my nose. I like the grapefruit and mandarin, in the start, and they feel well blended.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Eau Intense lives up to the name. The sillage is strong for this type of fragrance, it’s not insane or anything, but it’ll be noticeable in the 4-6 feet range around you.

The longevity is also very good, I get about 9 hours of solid wear with it on my skin, but on an old t-shirt it kept right on going along.

For me, the sillage quiets down after an hour or two. It’s not a skin scent, at that point, but feels much lighter and airy. Still, I really dig how this fragrance performs on my skin.

It’s better than all of the other Light Blue Pour Homme fragrances, in terms of performance. It not only outlasts them all, it has more consistent sillage, in the process.

Seasonally, once again it is mainly for spring/summer, but like the original it can be worn year round without any issue. It’s got that same versatility. It can be worn casually or at the office or out on a date. It’s not really limited and is a good all around cologne.

Now, I probably wouldn’t make it a go to for more formal occasions or be a daily office wear. Plus, there are better options for romantic wear, but it can cover plenty of bases otherwise.

Though, in it’s most basic form, it is best used on a warmer day. It’s refreshing, and one that I have been loving to wear casually, during this summer.

So, while it has versatility, I’m going to stick to daily wearing it during spring/summer. It’s been occupying the same role that Eternity Aqua has, for me.

Overall Scent

Overall, do I like Light Blue Eau Intense? I actually like it a lot for a summer scent. It is really great while being utterly simple and easy to love.

I am digging it more than the original Light Blue, as D&G took what was working with that, and then made it better. I like how cold and smooth this one feels versus the spicier original.

The aquatic accord and juniper really add a fresher summer vibe. Not the same spiciness and woods as the original Light Blue has.

Update: To me, this is still the best of the Light Blue Pour Homme line. The more recent releases have given it a run for the top spot, but Eau Intense just does everything better in aggregate. 

It also has better strength and staying power. I can recommend and it is a good inoffensive scent for guys who want a fragrance to cover many bases with one bottle.

The dry down, can be fairly musky and has a dose of amberwood, which some might not like. That’s probably the main drawback with this one. It can be pretty synthetic smelling, at times.

However, most people seem to have positive feelings toward Eau Intense. It’s a very good aquatic, that delivers a pleasant smell, and does a fine job at not quitting early.

Nirvana Black by Elizabeth and James

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Nirvana Black was one of the Elizabeth and James fragrance releases back in 2013. It’s been a while since I’ve had this one around, never wrote a full review of it, and decided that I should get a sample to do so. How does this Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen scent perform? How long does it last? Is it worth a buy?

What does Nirvana Black Smell Like?

Notes include: violet, sandalwood, and vanilla

Click here to try: Elizabeth & James Nirvana Black Edp Spray Womens Perfume Nib, 1.0 Ounce 

My Full Review

Let’s see how this one is described: Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black is an addictive blend of alluring violet, sensual sandalwood, and rich vanilla that strike the perfect balance between masculine and feminine.

Nirvana Black opens up with a sweet blend of vanilla and violet. The violet note here is less of a dirty/earthy aroma and more toward the powdery side of the equation. These two come together with an air of smokiness surrounding them.

The early stages are where the violet is going to come through the most. It’s honestly not one of my favorite floral notes, but I really like it within this composition. It comes across as dark and a bit candied when paired with the vanilla.

As it moves along, Nirvana Black starts to get woodier with the sandalwood coming into its own. Very fresh, with a smokiness. I’m pretty sure the vanilla here is the Bourbon vanilla, found in the other Elizabeth and James fragrance, as it does add to that quality.

The final dry down is a powdery and slightly creamy aroma, as all of the notes have fully developed. Others seem to get more of a musky finish with Nirvana Black. On my skin, that doesn’t really come across. Sure, some is present, just most of it is our three main ingredients.

Nirvana Black isn’t highly complicated, which isn’t a bad thing, as this one delivers a great experience.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage with Black isn’t huge, pretty standard issue and middle of the road for me. It hangs around nicely and it can project itself somewhat, but it’s not a monster.

Initially, it actually projects pretty far and casts a decent radius around the wearer. After an hour, it’ll be more in that 3-5 foot range, getting closer during the duration.

On my skin, I can get about 6-7 hours of wear from Black. It’s solid, though, it doesn’t deliver a marathon performance. Maybe an extra half hour or so, if you spray a bit more. I can’t imagine that it would go much further than that.

Seasonally, autumn and winter all the way. This one thrives in the colder weather and I wouldn’t want to wear it in the heat at all. It sits perfectly in the air, when it is crisp and cold outside.

This is a unisex fragrance and doesn’t lean particularly feminine to me, versus some of the other E&J perfumes. Really can fit anyone’s style. That being said, I would prefer to wear this one out at night or casually versus having it be a daily office wear or something along those lines.

Overall Impressions of Nirvana Black

Do I like this fragrance? Yes, the whole Nirvana series is pretty underrated in my book. This one is simple, but great.

The performance isn’t insanely good, but it also isn’t bad. I had seen some people say things to the contrary. For me, the ability for Black to project was enough and felt really substantial at times.

But, the nuance of the aroma is a treat, especially only utilizing these three notes. I’m not even a violet fan in most cases, this one just works well. Not a violet leaf or too synthetically harsh. A good powdery representation.

It is kind of limited to cooler temperatures, but it sells at a very affordable price point, so you should still be able to get plenty of use out of it. Smoky, powdery, smooth, and somewhat sweet.

If the notes sound appealing to you at all, I would recommend giving it a try. This was one of the best of the Nirvana releases for sure.

Dolce Shine by Dolce & Gabbana

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Dolce Shine is one of the more recent releases from D&G’s Dolce collection of perfumes. This one came out in 2020, in a yellow bottle, with the standard black bow. I picked up a sample to test out recently for review. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it even worth a try?

What does Dolce Shine Smell Like?

Notes include: mango, grapefruit, quince, jasmine, solar orange blossom, salt accord, blond woods, white musk, and Australian sandalwood

Click here to try: Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Shine Eau De Parfume Spray For Women, Blue, 2.5 Ounce

My Full Review

Before we get into my personal review, let’s see how D&G describes Shine: The accords of colorful juicy mango and bright jasmine combine with sundrenched blond woods to create the new solar and fruity floral Dolce Shine Eau de Parfum.

Shine does indeed open up with a juicy mango note, which is also paired with a grapefruit note, giving it a bright tropical feeling. Parts of this perfume really has a beachy sort of vibe. There are solar infused notes, a creamy suntan lotion undertone, and a dash of salt.

Not to say that this is an aquatic or anything, it definitely isn’t. However, the vibe of a sunny day spent along the beach is totally there. The ‘solar’ notes have been used by a lot of fragrances over the past handful of years and the trend doesn’t seem to be slowing.

The creaminess of the floral notes and sandalwood is a really great addition to the composition. I know the jasmine is supposed to be the main attraction out of the floral notes, but I honestly get a fairly equal amount of the orange blossom. Particularly, early on in the wear.

Then, there is also a tuberose which seems to overtake the jasmine note, as well. By that point, the orange blossom for me is almost non-existent. Which isn’t great, since that is one of my favorite floral ingredients.

That’s about what I get for the rest of the way.  A somewhat tropical floral scent with a creamy/buttery finish and fruity undertones. Not a super complicated one, but I like the smell quite a lot.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Dolce Shine isn’t a heavy fragrance, nor does it really project itself all that far. It’s soft and sunny, but does manage to hang around, so that you catch whiffs of it during the wear.

But, on the whole, I’d say that it’s a touch above average, especially early on. You do get a 45-60 minute period of time, in which it does have decent amount of projection. Maybe 4-6 feet from the skin, at its peak. After that, much closer 1-3 foot radius for the rest of the way.

On my skin, it lasts 6-6.5 hours. Not great, but fairly standard. Shine isn’t a powerhouse or a workhorse, so don’t expect something that’s going to be an all day wear.

Seasonally, spring and summer. I’d go more with the summertime versus spring, as you’ll probably have a greater number of casual daytime opportunities to wear it. It doesn’t come across as something to wear in the colder months. Many other options for that.

It is a versatile wear. Shine isn’t going to offend nor blow out the room, so, you could wear it to work or school. It’s great as a casual daytime wear or for many other occasions. It’s pretty and attractive, just not a sexy nightlife monster kind of perfume.

Mostly going to serve as something to wear around town or whatever daytime function that you have to attend to.

Overall Impressions of Dolce Shine

Do I like this fragrance? I do enjoy the scent, particularly the opening act with the mango. I don’t have many complaints about the aroma itself, but the performance isn’t all that great.

I would’ve liked it to be a bit stronger and hang around for at least a few more hours. If that were the case, this would be an excellent value play for warmer weather. As it stands, it is interesting and has its merits, but not something that is a must have.

The good news, is that this will probably be on sale at some point fairly soon, and could be added to someone’s rotation. Good, but not something that I’d necessarily want to come back to again and again.

Shine is one of the better smelling D&G releases from this line. The performance is mid, but the aroma itself is worthwhile. Just don’t overpay and it should work out fine.

7 Best Smelling Kayali Fragrances

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Kayali is a very popular line of perfumes from Huda Beauty. It is known for having a variety of scents, that are easily paired and layered with other fragrances, both from the line and other designers.

But, what are the top scents from this brand? Which ones are actually worth getting a hold of? This page serves as my updated list for keeping track of the perfumes to check out.

Favorite Smelling Kayali Perfumes

The White Floral

Deja Vu White Flower | 57– Before testing all of these scents out, I wouldn’t have thought that Deja vu would be one of my favorites, but it absolutely is.

Up top you get a very nice tuberose and the sweetness of vanilla wafting up. The floral mix doesn’t just get dominated by the tuberose note, you also get some fruity facets, and periods of jasmine and gardenia.

Deja Vu is a good option for those who want a floral perfume, that doesn’t have a straight garden smell throughout. The fruity and vanilla aromas really help to make this one a joy to wear.

Not super heavy, but has a pretty solid longevity versus others in the series. Deja Vu Review

Cherry Love

Lovefest Burning Cherry– One of the more popular fragrances from the Kayali lineup and also one of the best. Lovefest Burning Cherry brings you a lot of similarities with Lost Cherry by Tom Ford, while still drying down differently.

The opening is a syrupy cherry with some incense like smoke (the burning cherry note) with a touch of raspberry and praline sweetness. Somewhat powdery, but dries down into a smokier amber and woods.

Yes, it’s still sweet, but the cherry isn’t nearly as overwhelming in the latter stages, versus what you get early on. Lovefest Review

Brown Sugar Vanilla

Vanilla | 28– Vanilla 28 is another sweet perfume from Kayali, but easily ranks among there best, in my opinon.

It opens up with tonka bean and brown sugar, actually being heavier than the vanilla orchid, at this stage. It’s actually not too cloying or nauseatingly sweet, the musk and amberwood help to keep it that way.

The tonka bean lessens and you get more of the vanilla, while the brown sugar sticks around. This one is none too complicated, while being delicious and easy to wear. Vanilla 28 Review

 

 

Soft Super Clean

Musk | 12– Musk 12 is one that is softer and a simple sort of perfume. It kicks off fresh and floral, with its opening lotus note. There’s some vanilla sweetness and the musk notes which gives this a powdery finish.

It does become more generally floral, with the lotus settling in to blend with other floral notes, like jasmine. The vanilla and musk notes, will take over and be the main focus. Still providing that clean and powdery aroma.

Musk is a Kayali scent that’s going to be pretty low key on its own, but still enjoyable for some people. It is also a prime candidate for layering and adding a bit more to other fragrances. Musk 12 Review

The Other Vanilla

Utopia Vanilla Coco– Utopia is another Kayali that utilizes plenty of vanilla. However, that’s not all that it is.

It opens up with a pear blossom note and some light citrus. The coconut will also be out already in the opening stages, flanked by a bit of jasmine. As we move further, the coconut and vanilla will play a larger role.

To me it is a fresh perfume, but one with a distinct dryness from the sandalwood base. The floral notes are strong enough here to prevent this from being a tropical sort of scent. It’s sweet and would actually work best in moderate temperatures. Utopia Review

Nice New Release

Yum Pistachio Gelato– This is a new release for 2023 and I think it deserves a spot on the list, especially if you’re partial to nutty gourmand perfumes.

Opening up, I actually get a pretty hefty dose of cardamom spice, to go along with the fluffy sweetness of marshmallow and whipped cream. It’s easy to draw Ariana Grande fragrance comparisons, since those two notes are involved in a whole host of her releases.

But, this one does stand out more thereafter. The nuttiness of the pistachio (supported by hazelnut), will have an increasing role to play here. The initial spice fades away and this one goes full on sweetness and nutty, with a hint of rum for at least a period of time.

Milky, creamy, a hint of powder. Feels colder and fresh versus being a completely overwhelming warm/cozy gourmand. Can work well in warmer weather and has some more depth than many other Kayali releases.

Silky

The Wedding Silk Santal 36– This is a lighter and fairly airy fragrance at times. But, it’s a really beautiful smell.

The opening has a champagne note (or at least the fizzy effect) which is paired with nectarine, freesia and the ever-present vanilla note.

In the dry down, it’s got a mix between powdery and creamy depending on which part of the wear you’re going through. Though, the whole mix is sweet with praline and sugary touches.

So, the name is somewhat misleading. The sandalwood and other woody notes are present and substantial at times. Wedding Silk Santal is mostly going to be a light and sweeet vanilla blend with other facets of the blend popping in and out.