Angels’ Share by Kilian

by

Angels’ Share was released by Kilian in 2020. I bought a bunch of decanted samples from this brand, in order to finally give them full reviews, and this was among the lot. I hadn’t heard anything beforehand, so really had no expectations of this perfume in particular. So, how does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does Angels’ Share Smell Like?

Notes include: cognac, tonka bean, oak wood, cinnamon, praline, vanilla, sandalwood

Click here to try: Angels’ Share at Sephora

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Kilian describes it: the perfume Angel’s Share is Kilian Hennessy’s most personal fragrance creation yet, inspired by his eighth-generation inheritance of Hennessy savoir-faire in cognac making. The perfume goes deep into the cellars of founder’s mind and memory, and into its most mysterious dimension: “la part des anges” or “angels’ share”— an evaporation of liquor in oak barrels that lifts, while aging, like a silent offering to the gods.

Wow. This is a gorgeous fragrance. Right away, I understand the comparisons between Angels’ Share and something like Oajan by PdM. Also, the base is the same smell as Nirvana Bourbon. Plus, it has a similar apple-like sweetness found in 1 Million Prive (I go more into this, at the end).

Putting aside its comparable scents for a second, Angels’ Share opens with an amazing blend of the cognac note, tonka bean, and oak. The opening really gives off an apple brandy sort of vibe, but with the oak of the barrel really coming through.

It’s interesting how much of that cognac takes on the apple aroma. Paired with the other notes it does get a delicious baked goods sort of scent.

Also, when compared with its Liquors companion Apple Brandy on the Rocks, Angels’ Share has more of an apple scent. Apple Brandy on the Rocks goes for more of a mix with the prevalent pineapple note. Which is one reason that scent was a disappointment for me.

Underneath that, is the cinnamon spice (which is never too heavy), and the praline/vanilla mixture adding to the delicious vibe that this By Kilian scent is putting out.

The sweetness does subside after the first hour. It’s still there, but it really resembles a warm syrupy fragrance. What really comes through, is the oak and some sandalwood.

It’s not that all the other notes fade, but they are behind the oak barrel soaked in cognac fragrance. This is what I get for the rest of the way.

So, the tail end is oak, sandalwood, cinnamon, and a sweet/syrupy booze aroma. Much less of that fruity infused booziness and a lot more of the woodiness.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this one is pretty moderate on my skin, the upper end of moderate. However, it does have pretty stable and decent projection throughout the wear. Just wear a bit on my wrist and I kept getting whiffs of this delightful smell, for a long time.

Angels’ Share isn’t going to choke out the room, but it will create a nice scent bubble around the wearer.

The longevity is great, just not the very elite level. It sticks around somewhere in the 9-11 hour range for me, depending on the day. Update: With a full bottle sprayer, this one actually goes over the 13 hour mark at times, it’s really the oak and vanilla notes but it’s still there.

angels review

This one just works extremely well on my skin and will hang around.

Seasonally, autumn and winter is the best time. Anything above a temperate climate is going to have poor results with Angels’ Share.

Update: Yep, this is an absolute killer when it’s cooler outside. The sweet warmth and spice of the cinnamon are absolutely amazing. I wore this last year for many winter activities like ice skating and received complements at the rink.

Within that limit, Angels’ Share is very versatile. It is a true unisex fragrance. In comparison to something like Oajan, I guess this does lean slightly feminine, but I’ve had no problems wearing it at all.

Probably not the best formal wear, but it’s fine in other circumstances, and can easily be a nightlife scent. Not a ‘club beast’, but it would absolutely work, in a more understated way.

I personally enjoy wearing it in the evening. It helps to create a chill atmosphere and it’s wonderful to catch that opening act in the crisp air, when stepping outside.

Overall Impressions of Angels’ Share

Do I like this fragrance? Absolutely. It’s actually kind of annoying, because I already have so many full bottles of perfumes that I want to buy for myself, and this just adds another expensive one to the list.

The opening act is utterly fantastic. I already had a great liking for this style of fragrance and this might be my favorite of the bunch. At least initially, I’ll update if my enjoyment of Angels’ Share subsides.

Update: I bought the full bottle, anyway. This has become one of my favorite fragrances ever. I had a high opinion of it, during the initial review and have become a bigger fan of this scent.

It has also become one of the most popular fragrances around it seems. I guess that’s thanks to a large social media influence. But, to me, it deserves all the accolades it gets.

While the dry down, isn’t as sweet and the woodiness isn’t my favorite aspect; this one does keep the opening aroma around in the background. As such, it remains a great wear because that oak note does seem like it has been covered by the cognac/apple brandy aroma.

This scent is awesome. I recommend giving it a try, if it sounds like it’d be your style, and you live in an appropriate climate…or just wear it inside.

What Fragrances Smell Like Angels’ Share?

Well, as I’ve already mentioned: Nirvana Bourbon by Elizabeth and James, 1 Million Prive by Paco Rabanne, and Oajan by Parfums de Marly.

None of these is an exact rendition of Angels’ Share, but each has somewhat similar aromas.

Nirvana Bourbon is like if you stripped this By Kilian fragrance down to the oak and vanilla notes. Then, layered the rest of it on top.

1 Million Prive and Oajan both have that sweet and spicy warmth. Prive has much more spiciness and isn’t nearly as refined. Plus, more resinous to my nose. But for the Paco Rabanne line, it’s probably the best they’ve ever done (if not, definitely top 3).

Oajan is a bit thicker, less sweet (still plenty sweet) and boozy. I do love that scent, but I’m for sure preferring Angels’ share, at the moment.

The latter two have the most in common in terms of the overall style of this perfume, even if they aren’t exactly the same. If you’re familiar with them, you’ll know approximately what to expect from this.

Kouros by Yves Saint Laurent

by

Kouros is one of the most famous men’s fragrances of all-time. Released in 1981, it has been a topic of discussion, both positively and negatively ever since. It’s one that I’ve had familiarity with in the past, but never did a full review for the site. Recently, I grabbed a decant of one of the more modern batches in order to finally put something to record. How does it smell? Is it still super strong? Is it actually worth a try?

What does Kouros Smell Like?

Notes include: clove, coriander, ambergris, sage, artemisia, leather, cinnamon, jasmine, musk, moss, and more 

Click here to try: Kouros by YSL

My Full Review

Note: I am only reviewing the latest batch here. I don’t have a time machine or 40 year old bottle that’s still good handy, so, that’s what is being rated/described here.

So, Kouros was one of my earlier fragrance encounters, while trying out parts of the old YSL lineup 15+ years ago. This, Opium, and Kouros Body were among those that I tested out. The latter two, were the one’s that I ended up purchasing. I wore both for a long time.

I think to the less experienced me, Kouros came across as being too bold for me to really want to wear. However, I didn’t dislike the scent either, and it’s one that I’ve come across every few years since.

Nowadays, I doesn’t garner the same shocking reaction to it’s strength and uniqueness when compared to modern scents. I’ve gotten used to a lot of the colognes of decades pasts and the ingredients that don’t get much use any longer with the popular scents.

Plus, if it has indeed been modernized and reformulated, maybe it doesn’t pack the same punch as the 1981 version.

The opening spray of Kouros is fresh, dry, with a spicy kick. Aldehydes and musk, really come through to my nose. The aldehydes remind me quite a bit of Chanel No. 5. Same sort of cold brightness (maybe a touch of bergamot?). The musk gives this a rough fuzziness, which is enhanced by the spice notes.

I’m going to go with mostly coriander, sage, and patchouli for what I’m smelling. It’s pretty balanced and I’m not getting too much in the way of cinnamon. At this stage, it’s an earthy/musky aromatic sort of fragrance.

Maybe because they weren’t actually using civet for this newer era of batches, Kouros doesn’t really come across as being all that ‘dirty’.

Some earthiness, yes, but it’s more of the plants/leaves (geranium for a time, comes out) than the earth itself or any sort of animaliac influence. It’s a modern musk with some roughness to it.

A lot of the spice burns off pretty quickly. Whatever molecule they’re using to represent oakmoss nowadays, is what begins to come to the forefront. Kouros starts to smell cleaner, smoother, and with soapy touches.

After that spice has gone, you do get a good dose of artemisia. I smelled Luna Rossa Ocean again, a few days ago, and do pick up on their shared ingredients, including the artemisia.

The dryness remains throughout the wear, Kouros does however become sweeter and a tad more floral. Honey, carnation, and tonka bean. Still fresh with the aldehydes now combining with the moss and an emergent leather.

‘Urinal cakes’ is something that often gets used to describe what this smells like. It doesn’t. I think people have some associations with that due to the interplay of the musk, artemisia, and jasmine.  That clean fuzzy floral, probably triggers the association for some people, but it doesn’t actually ‘smell’ like a clean bathroom.

The final stages of Kouros is a slightly leather musky floral/herbal fragrance. There’s sweetness to it still, but it comes across as being very much a barbershop type of finish. Nothing too outlandish, but attractive and classic.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, this still absolutely brings it, but it isn’t insane. I remember it having much more projection and ability to leave a scent trail. Nonetheless, it is still a powerful fragrance, just nothing extreme.

This modern formulation also has really good, just not totally elite staying power. 9-ish hours, on my skin, with an ability to just cross the ten hour mark at times.

Spectacular? Not really, but still better than a lot of stuff currently on the market.

Versatility wise, this one does have limitations. First of all, it can indeed be something folks either love or hate. I think the talk of it being hated, got extreme, and it’s really not going to cause poor reaction from others in most situations…if they even notice Kouros at all.

Seasonally, this YSL is awesome in the cooler weather. It’s above freezing right now in November, but walking outside brings Kouros to life and it hangs very well in the cold air. I would avoid wearing this in high heat and humidity, though.

It’s a solid business scent, casual, semi-formal, and even possibly date nights for some guys. It wouldn’t be out of place, as a romantic fragrance, as there is a certain sexiness with such a masculine fragrance.

Kouros definitely skews older, but isn’t ‘old mannish’. If you’re younger and want to try it, I’d probably not wear it to school or something like that. Just know that it’s going to be quite different from what almost any other guy is going to be wearing. Classic, but not anachronistic.

Overall Impressions of Kouros

Overall, do I like Kouros? Yes, I do still enjoy this one. It’s never been a total love for me and I don’t really understand the repulsion that others can have for it. Personally, I always liked Kouros Body more, as that was such a unique and awesome flanker.

Kouros is without a doubt a classic and an important men’s fragrance historically. Pierre Bourdon deserves plenty of credit for creating this one (his Live Jazz was also another banger, now lost to time).

The opening act is nice enough. The spices and aldehydes do their thing well, but I prefer the dry down, once you get some sweetness and leather involved. Neither ever truly overwhelms the muskiness, but I like what those notes bring to the table.

This is a cologne that still has plenty of life, solid performance, and isn’t just some museum piece that cannot be worn out. It’s not going to be for everyone, but Kouros will still get plenty of new fans, out of those willing to give it a try.

Gucci Jordaan GG Blue Velvet Loafer Review

by

Every once in a while, I will do reviews of other fashion products other than fragrances. Not too often, but it is something that I like to do, when I happen to purchase something that a lot of people are looking into. The Jordaan GG loafers by Gucci are one such designer product that I want to take a closer look at here. I purchased the blue velvet edition of these a few months back and will use this page to review and share my thoughts on them.

Reviewing Gucci Jordaan GG Blue Velvet Loafer

The Fit (Sizing)

Before, I get into anything else, I do want to talk sizing. With sneakers, I usually wear an 11.5-12, and there are many times that I’ll have to go with a wide version of a shoe.

So, I was pretty skeptical of Gucci’s sizing guide and initially ordered a Gucci 11 (11.5 US), despite their size guide telling me to get a 10.5 (11 US). They were correct.

I ended up having to return my initial pair in order to size down. These do run large, have an elongated toe, and no laces in order to tighten further. If it’s your first time ordering a pair (like it was for me), do stick to the Gucci sizing guide, as it is accurate.

Buy the Black GG Loafer at Saks: Black Gucci

Buy the Blue or Black from Gucci: Blue Gucci

It is confusing to wear a 10.5 Gucci, while it also says 11.5 for US sizing, but just go with it.

That being said, once I got the 10.5 size of the Jordaan’s on my feet, the fit was great. No sliding, but also not a complete pain to get on.

Unboxing GG Jordaan Loafers

Each loafer gets its own cloth covering and a canvas Gucci bag to store it in.

Here’s the individual cloth covering:

I do have a full unboxing video on my phone, but I cannot currently upload it to the site for some reason. I’ll try to sort that out and get it posted.

The Look

The main thing that attracted me to this version of the Jordaan was the Blue velvet. I loved the look matched with the beige GG monogram pattern.

It’s listed as beige, but actually does strike me more as a golden shade. The horsebit is gold and helps lend to that effect. Nonetheless, the beige GG looks like a pale gold or white gold.

The blue here is quite a deep and dark blue velvet.  The lighting in the pictures on Gucci’s website are also accurate. That’s exactly what I wanted, as many of the blue velvet shoes that I’ve come across, were always a much brighter shade.

On the back of the loafer there is a blue leather trim running vertically from the heel. The rest of the leather itself is a darker brown on the half inch heel and along the sides. While the bottom and interior of the shoe are a very light brown-orangish leather.

Pricing

The current price as of publishing is $920 per pair. This year’s price increase unfortunately happened, while I was waffling back and forth, as to whether I was going to buy a pair or not. I believe that the GG Jordaan’s had been about $840 before the increase.

The price for the black version is also the same. Though, that color is available from other stores which carry Gucci, while the blue is a Gucci exclusive. So, keep that in mind if you have any gift cards/discounts to other retailers.

Are Gucci loafers worth the price?

I’m not a Gucci fan boy. I don’t like a vast majority of their clothes and sneakers. However, I do seem to like a lot of the loafers. Obviously, you’re paying a premium for the brand name, but I don’t think it makes sense to buy unless you’re getting a unique style.

I wouldn’t pay the price for regular black or brown leather loafers, as their are plenty of other brands with the same look, for a fraction of the price.

The Jordaan loafers from Gucci, do seem to have unique patterns and colorways versus other designers. The blue velvet immediately jumped out to me and I wouldn’t mind having the black ones either.

That’s a lot of what I look for when jumping into a luxury designer purchase, long-term quality and something that has a pretty unique aesthetic. I don’t just want a giant logo plastered for full display, but I like the subtle GG pattern.

Cons of These Loafers

With blue velvet, there’s a time and a place to wear it. The color itself, presents more of a styling problem than the more ubiquitous black of the same style. Color coordination is a bit more limited with this blue.

Not a huge issue.

The velvet aspect does further limit the usability of the loafer. You need dry conditions, if you’re going to venture outside with them. Depending on where you live, that can be more of an issue.

Rain days, colder days, snow melt, wet walking areas, etc. Protecting the velvet takes more foresight than your average pair of shoes.

As such, these aren’t going to be daily wears for most of us. More of a statement piece. Is that statement piece in your collection worth $920? For me it was. I know I can make these last for as long as I want to

Coach Man Blue EDT

by

Coach has come out with some pretty good fragrances releases for men over the past few years. None of them are amazing, but I tend to think that they’re all pretty good at least. As such, my expectations for Coach Blue weren’t too high when I got a hold of a sample sprayer recently. Does this 2020 cologne release exceed expectations? How long does it last? Is it worth a buy?

What does Coach Blue for Men Smell Like?

Notes include: absinthe, lime, cedar, pepper, and amber

Click here to try: Coach For Men Blue 3.3oz EDT Spray

My Full Review

Coach for Men opens up with a blend of lime and the absinthe note. The absinthe actually tones down the sharpness or juiciness of the lime, but I frankly don’t find the note all that interesting here. 

I’m not even much of a fan of 212 VIP Black, but that absinthe note was better used, in that fragrance. Here, it is meh, as the cologne smells like a fresh blue body wash. Not that it’s bad, but it’s pretty standard. 

That’s a common theme with this Coach fragrance.

There’s a bit of peppery spice up top too, but I really start to get a solid dose of amber. Lime, absinthe, and amber in the beginning.

Then, it will shift to being more amber and cedar with some lime leftover and just a trace of absinthe. That’s about the extent of this one’s development. 

I do like the aroma. Simple, not anything that wows, but attractive enough. It’s a fairly standard issue ‘modern blue’ sort of scent. It has aspects that feel unique, but this is well tread ground.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Coach Blue projects itself fairly well. To me, 3-5 feet away from where I sprayed it. I did this both on my skin and on a hoodie I had laying around. It’s moderate and not really going to blow out a room. 

On my skin, it lasted around 7 hours, give or take. Again, not a powerhouse, but quite solid and usable overall. I wasn’t disappointed by Blue’s performance.

Though, it’s about the same as you’re going to get with basically every other Coach fragrance. Nothing that’s ever going to perform extremely well, but it’ll do better than average. 

Seasonally, I’d like this one in spring or summer. Really, anytime you have at least moderate temperatures. It’s your typical blue style fragrance. Fresh, clean, with a citrus note. 

I’d also say that this will be for the younger guys. Think teens through maybe 25 years old. I think there are better options in this style of scent out there, so, it wouldn’t be my first pick. However, if a younger guy got a good deal, it wouldn’t be terrible.

Within that framework, it is a fairly versatile wear. Mainly a daily wear or casual blend, but it could venture into other potential scenarios.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Coach Blue

Do I like this one? Somewhat. It smells like a fairly typical blue, with enough of its own style, to set itself apart. Though, it’s definitely not an amazing release. It’s all very forgettable, but not unpleasant to wear when you have it on.

It’s fresh, blue, and like a more well put together body wash. Definitely getting an Old Spice Swagger vibe here…but definitely better and more of a quality aroma. I had a travel size of that body wash on a trip and the two are pretty similar in smell. 

It’s got good enough performance if you happen to like the aroma. I wouldn’t pay full price, but it’s all in all not a terrible fragrance, just okay. 

I like the lime note, the absinthe is disappointing, and the ambroxan is more of the same that’s already on the market.

7 Best Smelling Tuberose Scented Perfumes

by

Tuberose is one of the most popular white floral notes that is used in women’s perfumes. It’s sweet and what is often compared to a ‘bubble gum’ sort of smell is both distinct and lovely when done right. On this page, I want to keep a running list of the best tuberose based fragrances for ladies.

What are the Top Smelling Tuberose Fragrances?

Popular Spicy Designer Option

L’Interdit Rouge by Givenchy– The entire L’Interdit lineup features a tuberose note, for a sweeter floral experience, you might try the original: L’Interdit

With Rouge, you’re going to get a spicier take on the formulation, and the best of the lot in my mind. Blood orange, ginger, and orange blossom all have a large role early on in the wear. However, that orange blossom will fade in favor of our target tuberose note.

The end is a blend of the ginger, patchouli, tuberose, and sandalwood. The tuberose becomes much more dominant, as we move into the middle and final acts of this perfumes development. It’s a nice mix of earthy spice and creaminess.

A fairly bold sillage and L’Interdit Rouge lasted about 8 hours on my skin during testing. L’Interdit Rouge Review

An Armani Prive

Rouge Malachite– Armani has its Prive line of more high end fragrances. Rouge Malachite is a perfume from their Les Terres Precieuses series within the Prive lineup.

However, you also get a fresh sage top, benzoin and amber in the base, along with other floral notes like jasmine. In the opening, you get a sweetness with spice. Then benzoin and amber join the main tuberose thrust to give it a smoother fizzy creaminess.

It is a strong floral fragrance, but has a surprising amount of depth, which should keep one catching new facets of its aroma. Again, this is an expensive one, so you might want to find a sample before committing to a full bottle.

Green and Fresh

Joyeuse Tubereuse by Guerlain– This entry from Guerlain adds some greenish/dewy facets to the tuberose note. Also, there is a pretty substantial lily note in the mix, at times.

Joyeuse Tubereuse is lighter and fresher than some of the denser perfumes that are on this page. It gives you a really nice white floral dynamic with the lily note. Greener in the earlier stages, but more of the tuberose and sandalwood as you progress.

There is also vanilla, but it isn’t a high level of that note.  Sillage isn’t massive, but the longevity is pretty good, just don’t expect a complete beast.

That Gucci Ambrosia

Ambrosia di Fiori– This is similar to the original Bloom, but with more power and a greater use of our target note. Ambrosia di Fiori has a great opening honeysuckle and a big use of tuberose later on in the wear.

Ambrosia also has a rose note, which makes it distinct from the original, and does add something to an already familiar blend. The rose doesn’t completely overpower everything else, though. It has a nice balance.

If you want a bigger, bolder, and heavier version of Bloom with some slight differences, this is the one to get. Very solid performance to go along with everything else. Ambrosia di Fiori Review

top gucci bloom

Suede and Tuberose

Tubereuse Nue by Tom Ford– Like a lot of Tom Ford fragrances, Tubereuse Nue is a bold take on a tuberose-centered perfume. This one does have a lot of projection and the overall performance is fantastic.

However, this won’t be one that everyone enjoys, but can be the top pick for a smaller percentage of tuberose wearers. Our target note is joined by a big suede note, some oud, and a fuzzy blend of musk, styrax, and benzoin. Nice leathery touches.

Yet, outside of the suede, those notes don’t completely dominate throughout. You do indeed get a great white floral scent. Lily, jasmine, and that brilliant tuberose are a true delight here. I don’t find it to be super heavy and still one that is very much at home in the springtime.

Ylang-Ylang Tubereuse

Tubereuse Imperiale by BDK Perfumes– Tubereuse Imperial is a true floral which gives you that blend of sweetness with the buttery creaminess of ylang-ylang/vanilla, and an additional jasmine.

The opening does feel fresher and cleaner, with a geranium and pink pepper mix that helps to keep this one clean and with a livelier aroma in the top half of this perfume.

The tuberose does have that ‘bubblegum’ presence here, but it doesn’t completely take over or make it too sweet for some tastes. The ylang-ylang and vanilla notes give this the unique and beautiful signature that makes it such a joy to wear.

Spicy & Earthy

Tubereuse Indiana By Creed For Women. Millesime Spray 2.5 Oz– Tuberose Indiana brings on a nice smelling bouquet of white floral notes highlighted by the tuberose, but not really dominated. In addition, one gets a hint of bergamot, and a creamy vanilla at the top.

Then, there is the ambergris and fairly heavy musk.  This is an older school type of scent. The citrus is a nice light addition in the opening and the vanilla gives it a further touch of sweet/creaminess to balance off the heavier aspects of the ambergris.

This one is smooth, but it has an underlying earthiness and much more of a spicy presence than some of the others on the list.

Notes include vanilla, ambergris, tuberose, white flowers, and bergamot. Captivating smell.

Tubereuse Indiana