Light Blue Pour Homme by D&G

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After writing hundreds and hundreds of reviews on this site, I’ve noticed that I skipped over or forgot about doing reviews on plenty of men’s colognes, that have been really popular. One of these scents, is Light Blue Pour Homme by Dolce & Gabbana, which I haven’t tried out in more than a few years by now.

As such, I got a hold of a new vial of the stuff, to try out the latest formulation and give it a proper review. Please continue reading below for my updated thoughts, on this best selling summertime scent.

What does Light Blue Pour Homme Smell Like?

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 Full Wear Review

Light Blue opens up with a blast of fresh citrus, mostly the bergamot and grapefruit, with a hint of the mandarin orange rounding things out. From the start, this one is bright and upbeat, and immediately brings to mind summer days.

Beyond the citrus notes, there’s is some spice provided by the pepper and an herbal element of rosemary. Very similar style to the Acqua di Gio line, but they are still distinct from one another.

After 10 or so minutes, the base notes begin to come out more. Incense is quite noticeable, it doesn’t create a giant cloud of smokiness, but does create a light envelopment of the citrus notes.

The Brazilian rosewood is not overly prominent, but instead holds steady in the background, giving Light Blue a solid grounding to base itself from. There is some dried oak moss and musk, though, neither are all that strong.

More of just a light essence in the background. It all comes together as a very crisp and light fragrance. There isn’t too much development from this cologne, it’s pretty linear, and gets right to the point of what you’re going to get from the wear.

Citrus, pepper/rosemary, with a dry and woody base. Simple, is a good thing here, you don’t really want a heavy and complicated summer scent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Pour Homme is a light to moderate scent. It’s not weak in my opinion, at least with this current formulation, and projects pretty darn well for around five hours before it winds down. The sillage on these current bottles is definitely passable and not at all ‘bad’.

Has it lost a step? Maybe. Though, I’m not sure if it’s my memory thinking that it used to be more powerful or an actual reformulation.

The longevity is also decent, it’ll carry along for 6-8 hours, depending on what the day is like. That’s actually good for a summertime citrus fragrance like this. It’s not elite, by any means, but this D&G will get the job done.

Seasonally, I like it best in the summer or the warmer months of spring. However, I’ve been testing it out so far in the winter, and it actually feels quite nice. Mostly, I’ll use it as a change of pace from the heavier and more wintertime only fragrances in my collection.

Light Blue has very good versatility, because it is super safe and inoffensive. You can wear it to work, casually, or out at night during the summer months.

Personally, I would wear something else for the nightlife, when its cold outside, but this could do the job when it’s simply too humid for a heavier scent. Light Blue Pour Homme is an attractive fragrance, so, you can’t really go wrong with it. Especially, if you are a younger guy.

It’s pretty close to being a jack of all trades. If you don’t need more formal or very ‘serious’ sorts of fragrances.

Overall Impressions of D&G Light Blue

Overall, do I like Light Blue Pour Homme? I do. It’s a simple fragrance that enjoys a mass appeal and women seem to enjoy it. It’s kind of an entry level cologne for guys just getting into fragrance and want a versatile value fragrance.

It’s not amazing to me, but I still do get enjoyment from this Dolce fragrance. And really, the entire Light Blue line.

The citrus notes are fresh and have a bit of sour lemonade quality, while the background notes add bits of themselves to the composition without being distracting.

This one has been so wildly popular for so long that it has become commonplace. You’re not going to stand out as unique with Light Blue on, but you aren’t going to choke out a room with it either. It really is a no brainer, easy reach, and mass appeal cologne.

I’m not big on the pepper and herbal aspects, which isn’t terrible here, but I prefer the citrus. Especially, on a warm day.

Personally, I prefer Light Blue Eau Intense to this one. I like the extra power and clean aquatic vibe that it puts off. It seems to be a toss up whether or not guys prefer the original or the intense version. Here’s my comparison: Light Blue vs. Eau Intense

Also, you could go with Light Blue Sun, which has overlaps with this original version; though, with a different overall profile.

Nuit d’Issey Blue Astral by Issey Miyake

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Still working my way through a huge box of sample fragrances to do review on. Today, I have an offering from Japanese designer Issey Miyake: Nuit D’Issey Blue Astral. How does this one perform? What does it smell like? Is it even worth a purchase? Read my full take below.

What does Bleu Astral Smell Like?

Notes include: leather, amber, coriander, lime, wood

Click here to try: Nuit D’issey Bleu Astral By Issey Miyake For Men Edt Spray Vial

My Full Wear Review

Man, I really didn’t like the original Nuit D’Issey, that Bleu Astral is based off of (maybe I’m in the minority opinion). It was a cologne that I truly found terrible to wear, and as such, I was really in no rush to try this flanker fragrance out.

However, I will say from the start that I like Bleu Astral much better than the original. So, my apprehensions were unfounded.

The opening gives me a fresh bergamot on top of a woody base sprinkled with some coriander. It’s actually quite a simple scent. It has a smoothness to it provided by the wood and the leather note which begins to emerge after a while.

It also has a sense of class and elegance, as the citrus note never gets too far out ahead of the rest of the composition. Definitely not a bright and sunny type of citrus, it has a darker depth and a hint of smokiness to it.

As it dries down, I tend to pick up more of the fresh and soft spiciness of the coriander, the warmth of the amber, and that familiar leather aroma. The bergamot takes more of a supporting role at this point. It’s all a rather dry affair.

The amber also isn’t a pure amber, more of the ever so often used, ambroxan. Here, it actually works well.  During the latter stages, it can have more of an earthiness to go along with that dry leather and wood.

Not sure what the name Bleu has to do with this, but, I think anything with ambroxan nowadays gets tossed into a blue bottle…seemingly, anyway. Still, this Issey Miyake comes off as being a pretty unique smell. Familiar, yes. Though, one that can for sure stand on its own.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it really doesn’t feel all that strong to me. I would say it’s more of a moderate, as you probably won’t choke out a room unless you go overboard, and it’s not a airy skin scent either. Just not a heavy monster of a fragrance, by any means.

3-6 feet from the skin, depending on which part of the wear you’re in. The opening is pretty good. Again, not powerful, but it brings a nice kick.

On my skin, I get about 6-7 hours of wear out of Bleu Astral before it begins to fade away. A few hours with that moderate sillage. Then, the rest of the time it becomes much lighter.

Testing a few more times, it seems that the 6-7 hour range, is all that this one is capable of.

What I like about this scent, is how versatile it is. Bleu Astral can seemingly be worn in any weather condition and even holds up in the heat of the summer. It can also be worn casually, out on a date, or formally. I wouldn’t call it sexy, this is more fresh and refined.

Nonetheless, it is going to offend anybody. Also, it doesn’t feel too youthful nor too out of date. So, a wide swath of the population can wear this, if they so chose.

Overall Impressions of Bleu Astral

Overall, do I like Bleu Astral? It’s decent. I find it to have a rather unique and inoffensive smell. Nuit d’Issey Bleu Astral has a classy masculine presence and an ability to be worn in many occasions. If you can get it at a fair price, it wouldn’t be a bad addition to a man’s collection.

I do like the opening with the lime note and the underlying wood and leather. Though, if I’m going to go with a citrus and wood blend, I’d probably just pick up a Bleu de Chanel bottle way before ever getting to Nuit d’Issey.

But, this can be an affordable replacement. In terms of style, not smelling like a total match of the Chanel.

It doesn’t wow me, however. I have the feeling that I won’t remember it in a few months, even when smelling it directly, it’s not super impressive…but it’s pretty good. I still like the original L’eau D’Issey the best from Issey Miyake’s line of fragrances.

It’s fresh and the leather and coriander is somewhat interesting in the dry down. I could wear this on summer nights and probably enjoy it somewhat. Blue Astral is not something I’m clamoring for, even while I have no real complaints about any aspect of it.

L’homme Ideal Eau de Parfum by Guerlain

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The L’homme Ideal series from Guerlain is both extensive and extremely popular. I’m close to finishing my reviews on the last two that I grabbed newer samples of. Today’s entry is Ideal Eau de Parfum, which I’ve already experienced multiple times, but was excited to come back to it. How does it smell? Does it last long? Is it actually worth a try?

What does L’Homme Ideal EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: cherry, almond, thyme, vanilla, spices, lavender, rose, bergamot, incense, leather, tonka bean, and sandalwood

Click here to try: L’Homme Ideal EDP

My Full Review

The opening of Ideal EDP is quite interesting. In many ways, it has overlap with L’Intense, yet much less smokiness from the incense note.

Instead, things are lead by cherry, leather, almond, and a mix of spices. On my skin, it is a smooth leather freshness with a warm blend of spice and a cherry note sitting on top. As it moves along, more of the nuttiness from that rather distinct almond note will peak through.

Pretty complex blend of sweet, spicy, leather, and the peaking of some floral notes. Lavender and some rose.

Actually, once those top spices lighten up a bit, I do start to pick up more of the incense. Decently close to my bottle of L’Intense.

The next phase: almond, vanilla, and tonka bean start to create a wrapping effect around the leather and cherry notes. Ideal EDP still has a nice sweetness, just sans any type of sugary candy-like aroma.

For a time, the rose will come out and I really don’t get much lavender anymore. The fragrance feels drier and has a nice balance between warmth and cold freshness.

Finally, it’s leather, sandalwood, vanilla, almond and cherry (in that order). The dry down is pretty leathery/woody with just hints of the more gourmand elements found earlier on the wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is pretty moderate. You do get a fairly strong start, but it really never overwhelms or dominates a room. You’ll get decent projection from Ideal EDP, though, it doesn’t hit the higher end of the spectrum.

The longevity is good, better than the sillage. I will usually get a full 8 hours of wear from this version and up to 9.5 hours, on a good day. Spectacular? No, but really a solid performer and one that won’t just quit on you. No real complaints.

Seasonally, I like this for autumn and winter. The colder and crisp temperatures really bring out its full presentation. More nuance and it simply smells better versus when it is in the heat.

This is more about the nighttime than being a jack of all trades. At least, that’s when I prefer it. It can venture into semi-formal occasions, dates, and even in the office at times. Maybe not a main daily wear, but one that will have a heavy spot in the rotation.

Overall Impressions of Ideal Eau de Parfum

Overall, do I like L’homme Ideal EDP? Yes, I really do enjoy this Guerlain fragrance. I think that it is the best of the line, that is currently available.

The cherry note, blended with leather, almond, and vanilla really is a fine experience. This one has depth and nuance, delivers a good performance, and gives you plenty of opportunity to wear it. Guys of all ages could easily wear this one without much issue.

In the US, it is no longer sold. So, you’ll have to purchase from the UK, Europe, or eBay. That can be a problem for a lot of guys and really drive up the price of acquiring a bottle.

Update: They brought it back. EDP is now widely available

Is it worth it? If you like this line, yes, it probably will be. Personally, I already have a full bottle of L’Intense and don’t really want to own multiple flankers of Ideal. I certainly thought about it and almost pulled the trigger.

Ideal eau de parfum is a fantastic wear. Not my personal favorite, but something that I can certainly want to come back to when the mood strikes.

La Belle EDP by Jean Paul Gaultier

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JPG’s La Belle is a sample that I received by mistake, when I was supposed to get different men’s fragrances and received women’s instead. But, not a big deal, since I have to do writeups for this site anyway. I’d encountered this one a few times before, but never spent that much time with it. How does La Belle EDP smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a buy?

What does La Belle by JPG Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, vanilla, bergamot, leather, floral notes, amber, musk, vetiver

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier La Belle for Women Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how JPG describes this scent: Jean Paul Gaultier created La Belle in his own image, an ultra sensual feminine fragrance with an addictive sillage. A green oriental perfume born of the encounter between addictive vanilla pod, fresh bergamot and a burst of pear.

Upon first spraying La Belle EDP, I immediately think that this is the female version of Ultra Male, by this designer. Two different scents, with overlaps, and really the same concept.

Juicy pear and bergamot kick things off here. The background is warm and a bit spicy, but the overall aroma is one that is sweet, somewhat thick, but retaining a light and watery freshness about it. I get amber early on, as well.

The sweetness has a gourmand caramelization going on. The bergamot note will subside and that’s when the vanilla note really starts to come into its own. The vetiver note comes in towards the middle act, with a general impression of floral notes.

But, this isn’t really a floral fragrance, just a sweet fruity one. The leather, if it is there, must be hidden underneath the layers of the rest.

In the end, it’s about the vanilla, amber, musk, and vetiver notes. That’s what it dries down to. The pear and bergamot are pretty much just an impression of sweetness later on.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This stuff is pretty massive. The ability that it has to project is very far reaching, much like Ultra Male. Literally, only need a spray or two. I can catch whiffs of it from a shirt that I sprayed from 10 feet away.

So, you know, don’t go crazy with this stuff.

The longevity is pretty top notch. Well over 11 hours, on my skin, during testing. La Belle is an absolute beast and workhorse that isn’t just going to quit. This is a perfume that is bold and commands attention for a long time.

Seasonally, autumn and winter. Maybe, the early part of spring. I wouldn’t wear this when it is too warm out, but it does hang very nicely in the cold air, here in January.

The versatility is probably the biggest weakness. Not a formal scent. Not for work. Probably not for many daytime situations. However, it is a nightlife gem. This can be worn to a bar, club, and out on a date.

It does have a sexiness and attractive qualities to lure someone in. Provided you don’t over-spray and choke them out first.

Overall Impressions of La Belle

Overall, do I like La Belle EDP? I do like it. It’s not a complete love for me, because it is very sweet and kind of overwhelming at times.

Nonetheless, it is a fragrance that smells very nice and it’s a solid gourmand. The bergamot and pear opening is great. It does quickly get wrapped up in that vanilla embrace.

It can be cloying, and frankly, it does wear on my nerves after a while. The vetiver and amber and vanilla dry down, isn’t my favorite…but still pretty good, on the whole.

If you want a monstrous sillage and love sweet gourmand fragrances, this is one to check out. Understand, it isn’t for everyone or one that you’d necessarily want to wear on many occasions. But, it is a perfume that can for sure have its place within a rotation.

A Drop d’Issey by Issey Miyake

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Issey Miyake released A Drop d’Issey in 2021. I happened to get a sample vial of this fragrance with one of my orders, so I of course eventually tried it out, in order to do a review for the site. I had no clue, as to what I should expect with this perfume. How does it smell? Does it last long? When should it be worn? Is it worth a try?

What does A Drop d’Issey Smell Like?

Notes include: lilac, almond, damask rose, solar notes, jasmine, star anise, musk, vanilla, and more

Click here to try: Issey Miyake A Drop d’Issey for Women Eau de Parfum Spray, 3 Ounce

My Full Review

Here’s how Issey Miyake describes this perfume: A solar lilac accord enlightened by a musky note and an almond milk facet.

A Drop d’Issey opens up with a light and floral aroma. The damask rose and lilac are the main attraction up top, along with the solar notes. It’s light, musky, and the rose dominates on my skin for the first bit, before this fragrance starts to shift.

As it moves along, the lilac will become more noticeable and sort of split the strength with the rose note. Almond and vanilla come in and indeed give this perfume a milky creaminess. Definitely a clean lotion sort of vibe coming from this Issey Miyake.

However, the almond milk will fade out too. The jasmine note will rise with the lilac and this takes on more of a powdery quality. A musky/powdery floral, full of solar warmth and light creamy touches throughout.

For me, this dries down into a fresh musky floral with some sweetness. Much of the creamy and powdery aroma will subside. The lilac fully takes control, on my skin. So, if you’re not big into that note, this might be a skip.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is actually quite powerful. It will project itself extremely well. I can spray the sample vial on a shirt and smell it from 6+ feet away without issue. I was actually surprised by the performance of this one.

The longevity is also great. It seems to quit in the 8-9 hour range, on my skin. So, you’ll get about a full workday out of it. All in all, this one really delivers the good with how well it sticks around and let’s itself be known.

Seasonally, this is a spring and summer scent. Wear it in moderate to warmer temperatures during the daytime.

A Drop d’Issey is something to be worn casually, semi-formally, or maybe to the office. This isn’t a club beast or something that is particularly sexy. Probably best served for women in their late-20s and up.

But, the lilacs don’t strike me as old lady-ish either. Clean and pretty pleasant to be around.

Overall Impressions of A Drop d’Issey

Overall, do I like A Drop d’Issey? I do like it. I think that it’s a very good perfume all around and doesn’t have any particular weaknesses. Maybe originality?

I will say, that you’re going to have to know what you’re getting into with this one. It does have an aroma very much like soap or a fine face cream. Lilac is a big part and it’s not one that is particularly sexy or dynamic.

But, if this sounds like the type of scent that you enjoy, it is one that is well worth checking out. The smell is attractive, the performance is great, and it’s available at an affordable price point.

I do like the opening with the rose, solar notes, and lilac. As well as, that almond milk creaminess. I’m not a huge lilac fan, but I don’t completely dislike it either, especially with this perfume. Nice smelling, purple flowers, with a creamy/powdery finish to it.